WSP04343

• File Number: 7630.325
• Description: Wild and Scenic-Gunnison River-Curecanti Unit
• State: CO
• Basin: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 12/1/1986
• Author: WBLA inc
• Title: Gunnison-Curecanti-Curecanti Instream Flow Water Rights Study
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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26

J. Boating Flows

An instream flow of 600 cfs from June through September for boating

purposes in the 29-mile reach has been proposed. The protection

of su~h a boating flow with Blue Mesa storage releases would in~rease the

the instream flow criteria from 200 (historic) to 600 cfs during the 4

month boating season and would involve the maintenance of flows in the 29-

mile reach that were 300 cfs greater than those proposed for the trout

fishery. In those years when Blue Mesa releases are made in the model to

protect flows at Westwater for endangered fishes, however, the total

release for fishery purposes (700 cfs) would e~ceed the proposed boating

flow.

K. GunrdSOYI Tunnel Diversion PatterrlS

Because diversions to the Gunnison Tunnel for irrigation e~hibit great

variability from month to month and year to year, they were modelled

a~cording to actual diversions for the period of record. In one scenario,

these historical diversions were factored upward in ar. arnount proportior.al

to increasing the capacity of the Tunnel from 1122 to 1300 cfs under the

assumption that the increased capacity of the Gunnison Tunnel will be used

for irrigation diversions.

(See Appendi. D.) Gunnison Tunnel irrigation

diversions also e.hibit great variability from day to day, and ever.

perhaps from hour to hour. It is assumed that the ma.imum capacity of the

WBLA, Inc. 1909 Broadway, *3, Boulder, Colorado 80302