WSP02211

• File Number: 8220.116.I
• Description: Fruitland Mesa Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 3/25/1977
• Author: USDOI - BOR
• Title: Final Environmental Statement
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

SUMMARY
() Draft

(X) Fi na 1

Environmental Statement

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

3.

1. Type of Action: Administrative (X) Legislative ( )

2. Brief Description of Action: The Fruitland Mesa Project would involve
construction of a 606-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.

SUl11l1ary of Environmental Impacts and Unavoidable Adverse Effects: The
agricultural yield would be increased on 18,250 acres of land. This
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 606 acres of mountain valley and
4.5 miles of stream. The reservoir would create a new f1atwater
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 a$ the project would provide for
a minimum fishery pool on the reservoir. Estimated flows in the
Co 10rado River would be decreased by 21,300 acre-feet annually, and
the salinity concentration would be increased by approximately 3.2 mg/1
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. List of Entities from whom COl11l1ents have been Requested or Received:
See list on next page.

6. Date made available to C.E. . and the
ra t tatement: Septem er 3,
Final Statement: MAR 25 1977