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<br />Subsequent legislation, Public Law 96-375 of October 3, 1980, specifically <br />authorized feasibility-level studies on the Lower Gunnison Basin and nine <br />other salinity control units. <br /> <br />Previous and Related Investigations <br /> <br />Dallas Creek Project <br /> <br />The Dallas Creek Project, authorized in 1968, is presently under <br />construction. The project will provide municipal, industrial, and <br />irrigation water and flood control for a service area encompassing <br />the Lower Gunnison Basin Unit study area and other portions of Montrose, <br />Delta, and Ouray Counties. The principal project feature, Ridgway <br />Reservoir, will be formed by Ridgway Dam on the Uncompahgre River about <br />6 miles north of the town of Ridgway and will have a storage capacity of <br />80,000 acre-feet. Water supplies are expected to include 22,600 acre- <br />feet for municipal purposes, 5,500 acre-feet for light industrial use, <br />900 acre-feet for supplemental irrigation of land south of the Lower <br />Gunnison Basin Unit study area, and 10,300 acre-feet for supplemental <br />irrigation within the study area. Water will be distributed through <br />existing fscilities or facilities constructed by the Tri-County Water <br />Conservancy District or the water users. <br /> <br />Uncompahgre Project <br /> <br />The Uncompahgre Project was authorized for construction in 1903 <br />following passage of the Reclamation Act in 1902. Most of the project <br />facilities were constructed before 1915, and the last feature, Taylor <br />Park Reservoir, was completed in 1937. <br /> <br />Irrigated lands served by the Uncompahgre Project are included <br />within the study area of the Lower Gunnison Basin Unit, and are located <br />in the lower Uncompahgre Valley surrounding the town of Montrose and <br />extending northwest along both sides of the Uncompahgre River to Delta, a <br />distance of 34 miles. Project features include Taylor Park Dam and <br />Reservoir, Gunnison Tunnel, 7 diversion dams, 138 miles of main canals, <br />414 miles of laterals, and 216 miles of drains. The system diverts water <br />from the Uncompahgre River and from the Gunnison River to the east <br />through the Gunnison Tunnel to serve 83,000 acres of project land. The <br />Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association operates and maintains the <br />project. <br /> <br />Uncompahgre Project Improvement and Extension <br /> <br />Because of the age of the Uncompahgre Project facilities, many <br />are seriously deteriorated and in need of replacement. The Colorado <br />River Water Conservation District, Uncompahgre Valley residents, local <br />and State entities, and others requested that the Bureau of Reclamation <br />undertake a study on improving and extending the Uncompahgre Project. The <br />study was conducted and a report presenting the results completed in <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />()Q0902 <br /> <br />