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SUMMARY Water-User Organizations The Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association (UVWUA). a nonprofit corporation, administers the Uncompahgre Project and is responsible for operation and maintenance of the project. Water rights are specifically tied to Uncompahgre Project lands and are filed by the United States; UVWUA members are individuals who own irrigated land within the project boundaries and, in turn, own shares in UVWUA. The UVWUA, in addition to providing irrigation water, diverts stockwater through the cansl system during the winter season (October through March). Outside the Uncompahgre Project service area, an additional 76 water users receive water deliveries through Uncompahgre Project canals under carriage contracts with the UVWUA. To construct the off-farm features for the domestic water system, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) will contract with water supply entities who provide domestic water through independently owned and operated domestic distribution systems with separate areas of authority. These include the Tri-County Water Conservancy District (Tri-County); the Menoken Water Company (Menoken), and the Chipeta Water Company (Chipeta). Water treatment snd interconnecting distribution facilities are owned and operated by the Project 7 Water Authority (a consortium of the cities of Delts, Montrose, and Olathe; the Menoken and Chipeta Water Companies; and Tri-County) which supplies treated water from a centrally located treatment plant. Plan of Development The winter water replacement program consists of providing a replace- ment winter water supply for livestock operators who currently depend upon Uncompahgre Project canals for their livestock watering needs during the winter. The majority of the livestock operators use these flows by having their livestock drink directly from the canals or laterals. Winter canal flows will be terminated, and replacement water supplies will be provided to 954 water users by extending the existing rural domestic wster systems in the unit area. The winter water replacement program will reduce salt loading to the Colorado River system by 74,000 tons annually at a cost effectiveness of $42 per ton of salt removed. Over the long term, this reduction will help maintain water quality for downstream water users. Under the replacement program, all members who exert their right to winter water are eligible for replacement water deliveries at a location near their property line determined by mutual agreement. Water users who can demonstrate historical use of the winter canal flows as a source of livestock water since the winter of 1974-75 are eligible for on-farm pipelines and stock tanks to provide replacement water deliveries to the point of historic use. Water users served by carriage contracts are eligible for replacement service under the same criteria applied to UVWUA members, provided they amend their contracts with the UVWUA to specifically provide for winter water deliveries. 001702 S-2