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

Related Studies

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Summary

A feasibility-level investigation termed the Uncompahgre Project System
Optimization/Joint Use Study was initiated by the Bureau of Reclamation
(Reclamation) in FY90 to reanalyze the feasibility of sharing the project
costs through the salinity control program and through a reimbursable
rehabilitation and betterment (R&B) loan for the five deferred components
of the LGBU. This loan would be obtained by the Uncompahgre Valley
Water Users Association (UVWUA). The water saved from lining the canals
and laterals was initially identified as a financial resource if a use and
monetary value could be established. If the concept proved feasible, the
cost-effectiveness value for the deferred components would be sufficient for
the project to garner funding from the salinity control program.

In addition to the financial analysis, the study again analyzed
environmental impacts and associated wetland and wildlife mitigation
requirements. Reformulating the mitigation plan was included because the
previously developed plan, which was based on outdated policies, was
controversial, and the UVWUA was on record as opposing it. A repayment
capacity analysis was completed in preparation for the R&B loan, but the
analysis showed no additional repayment capacity by the UVWUA for
system improvements on the east side of the Uncompahgre River.

Designs and cost estimates were developed for each major canal and its
lateral system, which were treated as five canal components and five lateral
system components. Preliminary results of the study indicated that by
taking into account revised estimates of reductions in salt loading, each of
the lateral system components appeared to be a cost-effective increment for
the salinity control program without cost sharing via an R&B loan.
However, the canal components remained relatively costly and would
require large R&B loans to bring them to a cost-effective level sufficiently
attractive to obtain funding from the salinity control program. No options
for generating revenues from the sale of saved water received further
analysis or consideration because existing State of Colorado water law does
not allow for such sales.

A decision was made to continue further work as advance planning for the
LGBU because it was recognized that an R&B loan would not be a source of
funding. A Supplement to the Feasibility Report and supplemental
environmental assessment would be prepared only for the cost-effective
components.

Plan of Development

The recommended program for the East Side Laterals consists of installing
lBB miles of buried concrete or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe to replace
195 miles of existing earth laterals and 7 miles of small canal segments
under the South, Loutzenhizer, Selig, East, and Garnet systems. Pipe

S-2