WSP02296

• File Number: 8281.980
• Description: Colorado River Studies and Investigations - Upper Gunnison/Uncompahgre Basin Water Study
• Basin: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 2/1/1988
• Title: Phase I Feasibility Study For Upper Gunnison-Uncompahgre Basin - Task Memorandum No. 4
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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The water demanq forecast for irrigated agriculture is based on a large
amount of data related to irrigated acreage, cropping patterns, crop
consumptive use and irrigation efficiencies available from the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation, Soil Conservation Service, U. S. Geological Survey and the State
Engineers Office.

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Agricultural water demand forecasts are presented in Table S.4. The
figures presented in the table as baseline are also 1986 actual figures.

TABLE S.4

Agricultural Water Demands

Type of Use

Diversion
Requirements (af/yr)
Baseline Moderate High

Consumptive Use
(af/yr)
Baseline Moderate High

Irrigated Agriculture 706,000 783,000 901,000 229,000 250,000 283,000

.

Livestock

1,900

2,000

2,200

1,100

1,200

1,300

Tota 1

707,900 785,000 903,200 230,100 251,200 284,300

Note: All figures rounded to nearest 100.

POWER DEMAND FORECAST

A number of existing national, state and local power demand forecasts were
reviewed. All of the forecasts are near-term forecasts which extend only 10 to
25 years into the future. The future power demand forecast for the State of
Colorado ranges from a low of 1.6 percent average annual growth to 3.5 percent.
It appears that there will be an opportunity to market power from a future
development in the study area assuming that the cost of that power is
competitive with alternative projects which could be developed in the state.

The market value of base10ad power has declined in recent years. A value
of about $17.50 per kW-month capacity and 1.5 cents per kWh for energy appears
to be a reasonable figure for use in calculating power benefits in this study.
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