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<br />. <br /> <br />t;) <br />o <br />tv <br />o <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />COLORADO RIVER WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM <br />LOWER GUNNISON BASIN UNIT <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />BUREAU OF RECLAMATION ACTIVITIES <br /> <br />SUMMARY SHEET <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />The Lower Gunnison Basin Unit is a component of the Colorado River <br />Water Quality Improvement Program (Program). The goal of the <br />Program is to reduce the salt load of the Colorado River system. <br />The Program is being implemented through a cooperative effort of <br />the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Interior. The <br />Lower Gunnison Unit area being addressed through the Department of <br />Interior effort is composed of the Uncompahgre Project which is a <br />Federal development consisting of 86,000 acres of irrigated farm <br />land in Montrose, and Delta Counties. The unit area contributes <br />approximately 360,000 tons of salt to the river system on an <br />average annual basis. As authorized, the plan for the unit area <br />consists of two components, winter stockwater replacement and <br />lining or piping the canal and lateral systems on the east side of <br />the Uncompahgre River. <br /> <br />WINTER STOCKWATER REPLACEMENT <br /> <br />Historically, Uncompahgre Project canals and laterals were used to <br />deliver stockwater to farmers and ranchers. This required <br />operation of the canal system 12 months each year. These <br />operations provided a valuable service to the local agricultural <br />economy since area ground water is of very poor quality and rural <br />domestic water systems were not capable of providing stockwater <br />deliveries. However, these operations resulted in seepage losses <br />which transported approximately 41,000 tons of salt to the river <br />each year. <br /> <br />As part of the Lower Gunnison Basin Unit salinity control program, <br />Reclamation, in cooperation with the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users <br />Association (Association) I Tri-County Water Conservancy District, <br />Menoken Water Company and the Chipeta Water Company, are installing <br />approximately 375 miles of pipelines. Construction of these <br />facilities will extend rural domestic water service to <br />participating livestock producers to replace their reliance on <br />canal and lateral deliveries thus allowing termination of non- <br />irrigation season canal flows and associated salt loading. Cost <br />effectiveness of this salinity control measure is approximately $47 <br />per ton. <br />