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p~" tr..':;':;- tt:.} GRAND MESA PROJECT Despite the fact that there are severe shortages of irrigation water in late summer, there is still more surplus spring runoff in Leroux, Tongue, and Surface Creeks. If this water could be stored, it would help meet the late season needs. To develop an adequate supply of water, the farmers and ranchers must turn to the North Fork of the Gunnison. Since there is new land in the Surface Creek Valley and on Redlands and Cedar Mesas. the logical solution is the proposed Grand Mesa Project. Individuals, organizations, and the Bureau of Reclamation have investigated various plans of development for the project during the past three decades. High costs blocked many plans, but the financial assistance that is now available to water users under participating irrigation projects of the Colorado River Storage Project makes the Grand Mesa Project possible. The Bureau outlined project plans in preliminary reconnaissance reports in 1957 and 1962. Residenls of the area favored the latter, and the Federal Agency began detailed study of that plan in 1963. The reporf which will be prepared at the end of the investigation will form the basis of authorization of the project by Congress. PROJECT PLAN FOR IRRIGATION. Canals and ditches would coiled excess winter and spring water in streams draining the south slopes of Grand Mesa between Tongue and Muddy Creeks and store it in the proposed Electric Mountain and Gorsuch Reservoirs. The project would increase the water available for irrigation by about 55,000 acre-feef annually. The new block of water would provide a supplemental. or ad- ditional supply for /7,160 acres of land now under irrigation and a full supply for irrigation of 14,540 acres or arable land in the area. New lands on Redlands Mesa that need irrigation water '"OT."-,"'..-r_ __,' . ,<.. '. "~'. '.~ .'P.. .__.".. ..