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<br />C"": <br />In <br />c <br />- <br /> <br />r- <br /> <br />(. <br /> <br />economic depression of the 1930 's. 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 the year 2051. <br /> <br />Despite its many problems, the Uncompah~e Project has, in many ways, <br />been a highly successful developaent. 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 heen 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, however. 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 within the 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 the 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 />~he Uncompahgre Project is closely related to the authorized Dallas <br />Creek Project. Flows of the Uncompahgre River will be utilized for both <br />projects and coordination of the operation of the facilities of the two <br />projects is necessary to provide for the most efficient and beneficial <br />use of water. Ridgway Reservoir, the principal storage feature proposed <br />for the Dallas Creek Project, will regulate Uncompahgre River runoff <br />and possibly could be constructed and operated to meet the 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 _ter by <br />the Uncompahgre Project will be served domestic water for household use <br />and _tering of livestock by the Dallas Creek Project. <br /> <br />Consideration of a potential extension of the Uncompahgre Project has <br />been centered around the possible development of a _ter lmpoundment <br />on the Gunnison River downstream from the 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 />the potentialities of the development. The extension plan as selected <br />for analysis in this report would involve the construction of the Domin- <br />guez Dam about 10 miles upstream from Grand Junction. A lake with 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 />opportunities as well as _terfowl habitat. Future needs for municipal <br />and industrial water in the Grand Valley area in and around the City of <br />Grand Junction would also be supplied from the lake. The mixing of <br />