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<br />n~~!~~.. . <br /> <br />Purpose and Need <br />- - J <br /> <br />1-3 <br /> <br />Water is presently diverted from the Gunnison River to the Uncompahgre River to <br />provide supplemental irrigation water for area crops. Irrigation diversions have been <br />made through the Gunnison Tunnel and South Canal for over 80 years. The Project, at <br />750-cfs design capacity, would increase the average annual diversions from the Gunnison <br />River from 368,750 to 619,270 acre-feet per year, a difference of 240,520 acre-feet <br />annually. This diversion would increase the average annual flow in the Uncompahgre <br />River by 332 cubic feet per second. The 750-cfs Project would generate an average of <br />242,215 kilowatt-hours per year (kWh) and have an installed capacity of37.1 megawatts <br />(MW). <br /> <br />Figure 1-1 shows the UVRP, its major canals, and the relationship of these canals to the <br />Gunnison and Uncompahgre Rivers. <br /> <br />1.4 Need for Project <br /> <br />The need for the Project was stated in the PElS and was based upon the following <br />considerations: <br /> <br />. Generating electrical power, particularly within the authorization of PL 75-698. <br />. Developing a renewable resource with no air emissions. <br />. Improving operation of the existing irrigation system. <br />. Providing a revenue source for capital improvements to the irrigation delivery system. <br /> <br />Updated information regarding these factors is provided in the following sections. <br /> <br /> <br />AS Lateral Hydropower Project <br /> <br />July2000 <br /> <br />