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<br />IJD1242 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />CHAPTER IV <br /> <br />UNCOMPAHGRE IMPROVEMENT AND EXTENSION <br /> <br />The reconnaissance investigations summarized in this report have <br />resulted in the development of preliminary plans for improving and <br />extending the existing Uncompahgre Project for the benefit of the <br />local area as well as downstream areas and the general region. Con- <br />struction features of the improvement plan and the extension plan <br />would be physically separate and distinct as would the uses of some <br />of the features of the two plans. The plans would have the common <br />goal of improving the water quality and control of flows of the <br />Gunnison and Uncompahgre Rivers to the benefit of downstream areas <br />including the Lower Colorado River Basin. <br /> <br />Some of the possible means of improving, extending or otherwise <br />altering the project have not been analyzed quantitatively in the <br />present investigation but are recommended for more detailed consider- <br />ation in future feasibility studies, <br /> <br />Improvement Plan <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The improvement plan would include modifications and additions to <br />the existing project facilities and operational procedures to increase <br />the project water supply, reduce project operation and maintenance <br />costs, provide flood protection, improve the general appearance of <br />the area, improve residential areas, and reduce salinity contributions <br />from the area, New facilities would include a small storage reservoir <br />and a flood protection channel. The plsn would provide for lining of <br />or placing pipe in all canals and laterals, improving land drains, <br />and replacing various diversion dams and canal and lateral structures. <br /> <br />Reservoir Storage <br />Since analysis of the project water supply has indicated that <br />provision of reservoir storage in the Uncompahgre River basin would <br />be deSirable for operation of the project, various storage sites <br />were considered for development. One storage possibility is partici- <br />pation by the Uncompahgre Project in the storage .egulation that will <br />be provided by the Ridgway Reservoir of the Dallas Creek Project. <br />Such participation is difficult to evaluate until current definite <br />plan studies for Dallas Creek Project are complete. For this reason, <br />it was conaidered desirable for purposes of this report to evaluate <br />a site on Coal Creek as the most probable alternative. <br /> <br />The Coal Creek Reservoir site is located about 7 miles west of <br />Montrose. The reservoir would receive its water supply primarily from <br />the Montrose and Delta Canal although it would also control natural <br />flows of Coal Creek and waste discharges from the end of West Canal. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />45 <br />