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0012D3 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION . during the 1934-1937 period and a drainage system consisting of 205 miles of open drains was constructed from 1936 to 1942. Other needed work on roads, river channels, small canal and lateral structures, and other miscellaneous structures was performed during the years 1935-1942 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Additional rehabilitation work, consisting principally of replace- ment of eleven obsolescent major structures, including diversion dams and canal and lateral structures, was accomplished during the 1960-1964 period. A portion of the work was done under construction contracts administered by the Bureau of Reclamation with the remainder by forces of the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association. In 196~acontinuing program for rehabilitation of the Gunnison Tunnel was initiated. The first portion of the work was done under a Bureau of Reclamation contract with the remainder performed by the water users association. The work is programmed to extend to June 1978. . Except for the addition of Taylor Park Reservoir and the land drainage system, the project plan has remained basically as originally planned and constructed. The canals and laterals are mostly of open earth construction and are lined only for short reaches principally where required for stability. Original canal and lateral structures were principally of wooden construction requiring periodic major re- pairs or replacement. Some of the concrete in the original structures would not conform to present day standards, being placed without bene- fit of recently developed technology and quality controls. The recent repair and replacement work on major structures has been done with high quality materials and workmanship that will greatly increase the useful lives of the structures and reduce future replacement require- ments. However, the project still includes many deteriorated wooden and sheetmetal structures that are near the end of their useful lives. Project Features Taylor Park Reservoir, the only project storage feature, is located about 30 miles northeast of Gunnison, Colorado, on Taylor River, a tributary of the Gunnison River. The reservoir has a capacity of 106,200 acre-feet and a surface area of 2,040 acres. Taylor Park Dam is a rolled earthfill structure and has a height of 206 feet, a crest length of 675 feet, and a volume of 1,115,000 cubic yards. Photographs of the dam and reservoir are shown on the following page. . The Gunnison Tunnel, key facility of the project, has a length of 5.8 miles and a capacity of approximately 1,000 c.f.s. Except for its arch roof, the tunnel, as originally constructed, is rectangular in section with a width of 11 feet and height of 12 feet. In short reaches of the tunnel where the lining has been recently replaced, however, the tunnel section is a modified horseshoe with a diameter 6