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.." ,..j ....' ,". . . "~,~"..:"..",,~. ,-.....\01...""....., ,'- , GUNNISON RIVER STUDY UND FOR BLACK CANYON PARK P Contact: Duane Thompson 086 RELEASE May 29, 1986 WASHINGTON -- Work has begun on a study of water flows through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison to help resolve water right issues in Congressman Mike Strang's proposed "wild and scenic" river designation of a 29-mile stretch of the Gunnison River. "The data being gathered will provide a detailed analysis of the river flow to help us determine if it's possible to fit together the intricate pieces of this water puzzle," Strang said. The Boulder-based field office of The Nature Conservancy and the Colorado Water Conservation Board arc coordinating the computer mod- eling study of Gunnison River water flows below the three dams of Crystal, Morrow Point and Blue Mesa reservoirs. The study is expected to cost under $10,000. WBLA Inc., a water rights consulting firm, will make the study by modifying its own computer modeling program using raw hydrOlogic data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the three reservoirs. The Nature Conservancy will coordinate the study in consultation with the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the BuRec, environmen- talists, and other water interests that have been working on Strang's proposed Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Complex. "This is an exceptional cooperative effort among all the study participants to help develop a sound basis on which we cah determine if our goal of a minimum stream flow through the Black Canyon can be achieved, while still protecting all the existing water rights on the river," Strang said. The city of Delta, Colorado Ute Electric Association, the Pitts- burg and Midway Coal Mining Company, and the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association each have water rights that need to be protected, Strang said. The 3rd District congressman is also seeking to provide minimum stream flows through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison for environmental, fishing and recreation uses. The study will analyze the water demands, and is expected to be completed by mid-June, Strang said. When the results are available, Strang will call another meeting of his water rights advisory commit- tee to discuss the findings and the effects on the Black Canyon bill. Strang also said he has renewed his request to U.s. Rep. Bruce Vento, D-Minn., chairman of the National Parks and Recreation Subcom- mittee, for a public hearing on the legislation. . 30 - 3rd District. Colorado