WSP02879

• File Number: 8147
• Description: Arkansas River Basin - Gunnison-Arkansas Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 4/5/1949
• Author: DOI-BOR
• Title: Gunnison-Arkansas Project - Report of the Regional Director - Original
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

001726

cultural sections in the State of Colorado, is chronically short of

water for most of the lands already developed for irrigation. The

~eople living in the Arkaneas Valley l~ve e~~usted all possibilities

of effecting optimum utilization of the available water supply on the

Eastern Slope without such facilities as would be provided by the

Bureau of Reclamation in the Initial Development of the Gunnison-

Arkansas Project. In add.ition, the threat of se!'ious floods hangs

over uroan and !'ural communi ties and Bgricul tural lands along the

main stem of the Arkansas River down to the John Martin Reservoir.

The pLain'll stre!llIls are heavy ca.rriers of sediment >Ihich increaees the

flood potential and cau.es considerable d&l!lage to irrIgated lands and

to their supply systems. Increased quantities and an enhanced auality

of municipal water supplies are urgently needed by most of the cities

and towns in the A kansas Valley. The supply of electrical power has
!'

not kept ,pace wi th the demand, and the deficiency undoub tedly uill

b"come greB:t"r.
. e. qb" "C_
T~ situation on the Eastern Slope exists despite the fact that
i\

abundant water eupplies are found only a few miles away on the other

side of the mountainous Continental Divide. Water from the Western

Slope could be diverted through the mountains to alleviate the critical

l/

shortage on the Eastern Slope~generating large blocks of hydroelectric

power en route. The collection and diversion facilities, together with

terminal storage and control facilities--and intermediate powerplants,

regulatory reservoir., and other features--necessary for tl-Je allevi-

ation of the Eastern SlOpe shortages are described in this report.

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