WSP00804

• File Number: 8220.116.I
• Description: Fruitland Mesa Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 9/3/1976
• Author: USDOI - BOR
• Title: Draft Environmental Statement
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

SUMMARY
(X) Draft

( ) Final

Environmental Statement

Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region

1. Type of Action: Administrative (X)

Legislative ( , )

2. Brief Description of Action: The Fruitland Mesa Project would involve
construction of a 584-surface-acre reservoir and a water delivery
system in the Gunnison River basin in Delta, Montrose, and Gunnison
Counties, Colorado. Water would be stored and distributed for
irrigation, fishery, and recreation development. Irrigation water would
be provided to .11,940 acres of presently unirrigated land and 6,310
acres of presently irrigated land in need of a supplemental supply. A
recreation-fishery pool would be established at the existing Gould
Reservoir. Construction is scheduled to be initiated in FY 1977 and
will extend over about 6 years.

3. Summar of Environmental Im acts and Unavoidable Adverse
agr cu tura Yle wou e lncrease on 18,250 acres 0 an.
increase would benefit both the local and regional economy. Irrigation
development would be detrimental to mule deer and other wildlife
species on portions of the project service lands.

Milly K. Goodwin Lake would inundate 584, acres of mountain valley and
4.5 miles of stream. The reservoir would create a new flatwater
fishery and recreation area. Improved access along Soap and Curecanti
Creeks and improved recreation facilities would increase human use
of the area.

Flows in 20 miles of Soap and Curecanti Creeks would be reduced,
but a minimum fishery flow would be maintained at all times. There
would be a net gain in stream fisherman days due to improved access.
New reservoir fishery habitat would be created at Milly K. Goodwin
Lake by construction of the Soap Park Dam and habitat at the existing
Gould Reservoir would be improved as the project would provide for
a minimum fishery pool on the reservoir. Estimated flows in the
Golorado River would be decreased by 21,300 acre-feet annually, and the
salinity concentration would be increased by approximately 3.2 mg/l
at Imperial Dam.

4. Alternatives Considered:
1. Variations in the proposed plan.
2. Alternate water sources and storage sites.
3. Alternate water uses.
4. Nondevelopment

5. Statements are being distributed to the following:
See list on next page.

6. Date Draft Statement made available to C.E.Q. and the public:

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