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<br />-.J <br /> <br /> <br />'-------- .-'---" <br /> <br />h~f:~l ~ <br />--'~"? ~) <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Prior to construction of the Curecanti Project, the maximum <br />discharge of the Gunnison River was recorded on June 15, 1921, <br />when 19,000 cfs (540 m3/s) poured through the canyon below the <br />Gunnison Tunnel. But with completion of Crystal Dam (FES 73-21), <br />minimum flows are p.xpected to stabilize near 200 cfs (6 m3/s). <br />Crystal Dam will also trap heavy sediments discharged by the <br />Cimmaron River before reaching the monument. <br /> <br />Since the completion of Morrow Point Reservoir, the river has been <br />subjected to daily flow variations of as much as 400 cfs (10 m3/s) <br />below the Gunnison Tunnel. This is because large quantities of <br />water are released through the electrical generating units at Morrow <br />Point during peak demand periods. <br /> <br />Water releases from Morrow Point are being stored in Crystal <br />Reservoir and are released at a fairly constant rate. The_Curecanti <br />Project is obligated to provide a consistent flow of about 1,000 cfs <br />(30 m3/s to the Gunnsion Tunnel during the irrigation season when <br />there is available storage In Taylor Park ResrvoJr or when there is <br />adequate streamflow. This project must also maintain a minimum <br />flow in the river below the Gunnison Tunnel of 200 cf~ ('6 ;3/s). <br /> <br />Specific operating criteria for Crystal Dam, other than project <br />obligations, have not been formulated. However, the Bureau of <br />Reclamation expects to maintain a flow of at least 400 cfs (10 m3/s) <br />below the tunnel whenever Blue Mesa Reservoir is full. This is <br />expected to occur during the March-through-September period in 85 <br />percent of the years. <br /> <br />The Gunnison uplift and the hard, c:rystalline Precambrian rocks <br />that predominate in the canyon are"not"conducive to the occurrence <br />of ground water within the study area. Although there are no <br />measurements, ground water probably contributes very little, if <br />any, flow to the Gunnison River between the upstream boundary of <br /> <br />90 <br /> <br /> <br />