WSP03305

• File Number: 8276.350.10
• Description: Lower Gunnison Basin Unit - Colorado River Salinity Control Program - Winter Water Replacement
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 8/1/1981
• Title: Progress Report - Lower Gunnison Basin Unit Winter Water Replacement
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Project Overview

WINTER WATER REPLACEMENT
LOWER GUNNISON BASIN UNIT, COLORADO

Statement of Problem

In order to claim the salinity benefits from deletion of winter stock water from
the Lower Gunnison Basin Unit Canals and Laterals, it was determined that a cost
for other means for delivering this water be added to the total project cost.
The most feasible way to replace this winter water would be to deliver it through
the existing rural domestic water systems. The costs would include: the purchase
of the raw water required, the delivery of treated water, the extension of the
treated system, the addition of new taps for users who are not on the treated
system, and the water users association overhead costs.

Derivation of Winter Water Replacement Cost
Number of Wintering Animals

From the "Tri-River Livestock Inventory" which was compiled from the "Colorado
Agricultural Statistics", the total number of cattle, sheep, and pigs tnat would
be expected to be wintered would be approximately 79,000 in Delta County and
87,000 in Montrose County. These figures exclude dairy cattle which consume
treated water at the present time. Assuming that one third of the Delta County
animals and one half of the Montrose County animals are wintered in the Uncom-
pahgre Valley, the total number of animals wintered in the project area would be
approximately 70,000 head.

Winter Water Consumption

Water consumption for the above livestock animals
gallons per/day. Assuming a 5 gallon per day per
125 acre-feet winter water consumption per year.

range from about 1 to 10
animal, yields approximately
(November through February)

Raw Water Cost

Based on the current Dallas Creek contract water cost of $100 per acre-foot, the
cost of raw water is $12,500 per year. Capitalizing this figure using an interest
rate of 7-3/8 percent and 100 year period, results in a present worth of $170,000.

Treated Water Cost

The following listing is the current rate schedule for the customers of Tri-County
Water Conservancy District, which is the largest treated system in the project area.

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6,000
6,000
8,000
40,000
140,000
200,000

gallons
gallons
gallons
gallons
gallons
gallons

$16.00
2.00/1000
1. 50/1000
1. 00/1000
0.80/1000
0.60/1000

gallons
gallons
gallons
gallons
gallons

billing period is 8 weeks

001660

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