WSP02017

• File Number: 8270.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Water Quality/Salinity -- Misc Water Quality
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 9/1/1994
• Title: Lower Gunnison Basin Unit East Side Laterals - Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program - SUPPLEMENT TO FEASIBILITY REPORT
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

Chapter 2 - Plan of Development

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Scope of Recommended Improvements

The recommended program would replace about 195 miles of existing earth
laterals and 7 miles of existing small earth canals with buried pipe on the
east side of the Uncompahgre River. The area covered by the recommended
improvements encompasses about 38 percent of service area of
Reclamation's Uncompahgre Project. The remaining larger canal segments
are not currently cost effective and would remain as deferred components of
the Lower Gunnison Basin Unit authorized plan.

Total expenditures for the construction program have been estimated at
$53,155,000 and are scheduled to be funded at approximately $5 to 6 million
per year, thus requiring about 10 years for completion. The Uncompahgre
Valley Water Users' Association sees level annual appropriations as
desirable to ensure workforce stability and efficiency of construction
operations.

As detailed designs are developed, it is anticipated that opportunities would
be identified where laterals can be combined or shortened by crossing fields
and changing alignments. Significant reductions in lateral system mileage
would occur. Some of these opportunities have been considered in this
feasibility level design process. Representative changes and length
reductions, based on map studies and accompanying field verification,
reduced the total piped mileage to 188 miles. These realignments are
incorporated into the system designs and cost estimates and are shown on
individual system maps in this chapter. The feasibility level design effort
used for this report and limited funding for the study prevent identifying all
such opportunities. However, further length reductions are likely when
precise field information is obtained and detailed designs are prepared.

Description of the Improvement Program

The major feature of the improvement program would be the installation of
approximately 188 miles of buried concrete or PVC pipe to replace the
existing earth laterals and cost-effective small canal segments under the
South, Loutzenhizer, Selig, East, and Garnet Canal systems. Forty-three
laterals currently totaling about 195 miles in length would be improved.
Three small segments of the Loutzenhizer, Selig, and Garnet Canals
currently totaling 7 miles would also be replaced. These segments display
cost-effectiveness values similar to the lateral components (Le., averaging
about $65 per ton).

Pipe length is expected to be significantly reduced during the detailed
design process as the designers work with individual landowners and the
UVWUA to design the most efficient system. Measures would be
implemented to replace losses to wildlife habitat and wetlands which may
result from construction of these components. Construction of the
improvements would be funded and accomplished under a construction

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