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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />001193 <br /> <br />economic depression of the 1930'a. For more than 20 years, repayment <br />from the water users has been in accordance with contractural obliga- <br />tions. The remaining obligation of $7,864,000 is scheduled for repayment <br />by tbe year 2051. <br /> <br />Despite its many problems, the Uncompah~e Project has, in many ways, <br />been a bigbly successful development. For over 60 years, the project <br />has provided a major source of income for an area Whose population now <br />totals about 18,000. The gross crop value has been estimated to total <br />about $215,000,000 over the life of the project and is currently at a <br />level of over $8,000,000 annually. <br /> <br />Sufficient time and data have not been available to determine the most <br />desirable plan for improvement of the Uncompahgre project. For pur- <br />poses of analysis in this report, bowever, an improvement plan has been <br />suggested that would meet most of the needs of the existing project <br />area. This plan would include a storage regulating reservoir on Coal <br />Creek witbin tbe project service area, replacement of deteriorated <br />and obsolescent structures, lining or pipe installation in all unlined <br />canals and laterals, and improvement of the land drainage system. More <br />detailed investigations may show that portions of tbe plan cannot be <br />economically justified or that alternative methods of meeting all or <br />some of the same goals would be more economical or otherwise desirable. <br /> <br />The Uncompahgre Project is closely related to the authorized Dallas <br />Creek Project. Flows of tbe Uncompahgre River will be utilized for both <br />projects and coordination of tbe operation of the facilitiea of the two <br />projects is necessary to provide for tha moat efficient and beneficial <br />use of water. Ridgway Reservoir, tbe principal storage feature proposed <br />for tbe Dallas Creek Project, will regulate Uncompahgre River runoff <br />and possibly could be constructed and operated to meet tbe storage needs <br />of both projects, thus eliminating the need for the potential reservoir <br />on Coal Creek. Many of the rural areas supplied irrigation water by <br />the Uncompahgre Project will be served domestic water for household use <br />and watering of livestock by the Dallas Creek Project. <br /> <br />Consideration of a potential extension of tbe Uncompahgre Project has <br />been centered around the possible development of a water impoundment <br />on tbe Gunnison River downstream from tbe existing project between <br />the cities of Delta and Grand Junction. The studies to date have <br />not been sufficient in scope and detail to accurately define and evaluate <br />tbe potentialities of the development. The extension plan as selected <br />for analysis in this report would involve tbe construction of tbe Domin- <br />guez Dam about 10 miles upstream from Grand Junction. A lake witb a <br />capacity of 298,000 acre-feet and a surface area of about 5,000 acres <br />would be formed by the dam. The lake would remain at an essentially <br />constant level and would offer outstanding recreation and fishing <br />opportunitiea as well as waterfowl habitat. Future needs for municipal <br />and industrial water in tbe Grand Valley area in and around tbe City of <br />Grand Junction would also be supplied from the lake. The mixing of <br />