WSP06020

• File Number: 8271.300
• Description: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program - General Information and Publications-Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/3000
• Author: Sidney McFarland
• Title: Water Quality and the Law of the River
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

irrigation water for about 23,600 acres of land and furnish

o
N municipal
c.c
~ Montrose,

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and industrial water for the communities of Olathe,

and Delta and the surrounding rural ,areas. necreation,

fish and wildlife enhancement, and flood control b,!'mef'ts \<lould

. be provided by the proj ect I s reservoirs.

'l'he Wes't Divide project is in Garfield, Hesa, Pitkin, and

Gunnison Counties in west-central Colorado. Project water would

be obtained from a series of Colorado River tributaries, including

the Crystal River. The project would provide municipal and indus-

trial water and irrigation ~~ater for about 40,000 acres. Recrea-

tion, fish and wildlife conservation, and ~lood control would also
be important functions served by the project.

The San Miguel ~roject is in Montroseand,san Miguel Counties
, .

in southwestern Colorado. The project would develop the flows of
the San Miguel River to irrigate about 38,900 acres of land and to

provide municipal and industrial water supplies. It wou~d also

: ,.

provide flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife enhancement

benefits.

I1ATER SUPPLY AND WATER QUALITY

,
. !

The major water problem in the Colorado River Basin has been

its availability. From the turn of the century it has been obvious
that there is not sufficient water to meet all anticipated needs.

,

The
I
,
~as
land
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

been the major factor in controversy between the two basins

extent of the dependable water supply i,s still not known. This

among the states.

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