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i ,-. J. .l!l-" .. .... ~. n 015 7 2, Alternatives, Including Proposed Action 2-2 Under existing conditions, water diverted from the Gunnison River through the Tunnel is delivered to the Uncompahgre River through the South Canal and, to a lesser extent, Cedar Creek. The Gunnison River flows combine with Uncompahgre flows and are diverted into seven major canal systems: . West Montrose and Delta (M&D) Loutzenhizer Selig Ironstone East Garnet . . . . . . Irrigation supplies are diverted from the South Canal to the AB Lateral and several other smaller laterals. A rural water supply system, called Project 7, also diverts water from the South Canal for storage in Fairview Reservoir. The South Canal is also used to provide irrigation water to the West Canal, which is on the west side of the Uncompahgre River. A general map of the Uncompahgre Valley Reclamation Project area, showing the canals within the project boundaries, is provided in Chapter 1. The cornerstone of the UVRP is the Tunnel, which is 5.8 miles long and crosses under the hydrologic divide between the Gunnison and Uncompahgre River basins. The Tunnel was designed to have a rectangular section 11 feet (ft) wide and 12 ft high, with an arched roof, though dimensions vary throughout the length of the Tunnel. Its slope is approximately 12 ft per mile. In some sections, the Tunnel is completely lined with reinforced concrete. In others, the floor and walls are lined or only the floor is lined. Where there is no lining, occasional rock outcrops protruding from the walls and ceiling restrict the hydraulic capacity. The maximum capacity of the Tunnel is estimated to be 1,135 cubic feet per second (cfs). An ongoing maintenance program for the UVRP facilities includes annual inspection and repair of the Tunnel as necessary. Flows in the Uncompahgre River have been stabilized by operation of the Ridgway Dam on the Uncompahgre River, part of Reclamation's Dallas Creek project, completed in 1988. This stabilizing effect is expected to continue in the future. Under the No Action alternative, individuals or corporations other than the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association (UVWUA) may attempt to proceed with developments similar to the AB Lateral project. Approval would have to be granted by Reclamation and UVWUA, subject to provisions of the Act of June 22,1938 (Public Law 75-698, Stat. 941). AB Laterai Hydropower Project July 2000 . ~ . - ~ _A~."., ,_::,,:-,!i,j ,:.b, ~= _.._