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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Gunnison Tunnel is only fully utilized for irrigation purposes on a daily

or instantaneous basis, and that the average diversions over any month

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will always be less than the Tunnel's maximum capacity, as has been the

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case historically.

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The diversions through the Gunnison Tunnel for the purpose of power

generation were assumed to use all of the excess capacity of the Tunnel

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for diversions in priority up to a decreed maximum of 900 cfs.

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L. M&I Supplies

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Proposals have been made for M & I supplies at Blue Mesa which have

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been quantified at 45,000 acre-feet (Colo. Ute: 20,000 acre feet; City of

Delta: 5,000 acre feet; P&M: 20,000 acre feet). For this study, it was

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assumed that these supplies would be used as primary supplies and would be

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released on a constant year-round basis and delivered through the 29-mile

reach. The sensitivity of this assumption was tested by examining a

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scenario under which it was assumed that Blue Mesa storage supplies would

be used to supplement other direct flow and storage supplies. In this

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scenario, stored water was released for M & I purposes in August and

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September of 80~ or greater exceedance years. When Blue Mesa is below

target, storage releases for M&I purposes are applied towards the instream

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flow criteria for the 29-mile reach, but not towards the instream flow

criteria for endangered fish at Westwater.

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

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