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<br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />The Fruitland Mesa Project has undergone feasibility <br />studies, definite plan reports, environmental impact statements <br />and public hearings for over 20 years. On September 2,1964, <br />by Public Law 88-568, Congress authorized its cons~uction as <br />a participating irrigation project, a part of a comprehensive <br />basin wide resource development plan approved by Congress in <br />1956 for the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. <br />As directed by Congress, earmarked revenues from the Upper <br />Colorado River Basin Fund together with repayment by water <br />users, will be more than sufficient to repay reimbursable <br />costs allocated to, the Fruitland Mesa Project. Attached is a <br />copy of the map of this project area. <br /> <br />LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION <br /> <br />The Fruitland Mesa Project is located in Western <br />Colorado in Gunnison, Montrose and Delta Counties. All of <br />these counties are counties which are greatly dependent upon <br />agriculture. As proposed and as authorized, the Fruitland Mesa <br />Project will utilize unused water supplies from Soap Creek, <br />Curecanti Creek and Crystal Creek for irrigation of land in <br />Montrose and Delta Counties. At the moment, the area irrigated <br />consists of approximately 6,310 acres. During this severe <br />drought winter of 1977, there was only a 14 day supply of <br />irrigation water in the Gould Reservoir, which services this <br /> <br />-1- <br />