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<br />results to various guidelines and baseline information. The results in this <br />report are intended for use by the DOl in determining whether irrigation <br />drainage from the Uncompahgre Project has caused or has the potential to cause <br />harmful effects on humans, fish, and wildlife, or has impaired the suitability <br />of the water for beneficial uses. <br /> <br />Water samples were collected at three sites on the Gunnison River and at <br />two sites on the Uncompahgre River. Water samples also were collected in <br />Sweitzer Lake, from two ditches that flow into the lake, and from the outflow <br />from the lake. Bottom-sediment samples were collected at two sites on the <br />Gunnison River, at two sites on the Uncompahgre River, and from Sweitzer Lake. <br />Fish, invertebrates, and aquatic plants were collected at three sites on the <br />Gunnison River and at two sites on the Uncompahgre River. Biota samples also <br />were collected at Sweitzer Lake and from three tributaries of the Uncompahgre <br />River. Bird and egg samples were collected at Sweitzer Lake and at the <br />Escalante State Wildlife Area. All samples were collected from November 1987 <br />to July 1988, except for some catfish samples collected from Sweitzer Lake in <br />March 1989. <br /> <br />Acknowledgments <br /> <br />The authors thank Kenneth Moreland and his staff of the Colorado Division <br />of Parks and Outdoor Recreation at Sweitzer Lake for their cooperation and <br />useful information. The authors also thank Frederick Hill and other personnel <br />of the Colorado Division of Wildlife for their data for Sweitzer Lake and the <br />information about fish and wildlife resources in the study area. <br /> <br />DESCRIPTION OF STUOY AREA <br /> <br />Location <br /> <br />The study area is located in the lower Gunnison and Uncompahgre River <br />basins in west-central Colorado (fig. I), primarily in the Uncompahgre River <br />valley between Colona and Delta. The Gunnison River forms the northern <br />boundary of irrigated areas (fig. 2) served by the Uncompahgre Project. The <br />study area extends a short distance downstream from Delta along the Gunnison <br />River to include the Escalante State Wildlife Area (fig. I), located west of <br />Delta. Garnet Mesa Reservoir, located about 2 mi southeast of Delta (fig. I), <br />more commonly is called Sweitzer Lake and will be referred to as Sweitzer Lake <br />in this report. <br /> <br />History <br /> <br />The Uncompahgre River valley was inhabited by Indians prior to the <br />arrival of settlers, who came into the area in the late 1800's. The initial <br />impetus for settling in the region was mining in the mountain areas south and <br />east of the study area. Concurrently, ranches and farms were established in <br />the river valleys along with the towns of Montrose, Olathe, and Delta. By <br />1890, about 30,000 acres of land were irrigated with water diverted from the <br /> <br />6 <br />