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. 2:&.3i Chapter I.--Introduotion PROJECT DESCRIPTION . The Gunnison-}Jkansas Projeot is a potential plan for diversion of unal100ated waters from the upper Gunnison and Roaring Fork Basins on the ~estern Slope to the Upper Arkansas River Basin on the Eastern Slope in Colorado for utilization on present inadequately irrigated lands and new lands and by municipalities in need of additional munioipal supplies. The project as shown on the Gen/:lral l.np', oxhibit 1, would involve con- struction of reservoirs, canals, tunnels, diversion dams, pumping plants, powerplants. transmission systoms, and appurtenant featuros, Tho ovor- all plan is adaptod to dovo1opmont in two stagos, caoh of whioh would consti tuto a complete unit in:!opondent of furthor devolopmont for oconomic and ongineering foasibility. Tho first~ or Initial Dovolopmont. would involvo a transbnsin diversion of about 60,000 aoro_foet of wator from the Fryingpan River and other stre::uns in tho Roaring Fork Bo.sin to tho Eastern Slopo for uso in tho Arkansas Val10y in Colorado. This divorsion is thought to bo well wi thin tho limits of any existing or futuro compnct a~ocmnnts for allocation of Colorado Rivor wator. As indioated on ex- hibit 2, the Initial Development could bo roadily oxpandod into a I~imum Gravity Divorsion if and whon tho water woro made a","ilable for diversion by Upper Stc.tes Compc.ct Agreoment. Tho Initin1 Dovolopment has boon studiod in detail and has boon found to bo fonsiblo. Tho ~imum Gravity Diversion of 655,000 aoro-feot roquiros furthor invostigatiorl,o A oompleto finonoial c.ne.lysis for tho Initial Dovolopment is discussod horoin. Only sufficient discussion of tho second stngo. howevor, is presented to in- dioate the possiblo bonofit-cost ratio. Tho Gunnison, Roaring ForI<:. and Arkansas Rivers origil1O.to on tho . rugged and sconic Continontal Divido in Colorado, where tho highest poaks reach c.n olevation of ovor 14.000 foot. The Gunnison an:! Roaring Fork Rivers'are tributarios to tho Colorado Rivor which flows in a soutm70Stcr- ly diroction to the Gulf of California. Tho !~kansc.s Rivor, a tributary of the ilississippi Rivor, flmvs in a southoasterly direction to its con- fluonce with that stream., Only that portion of tho Arkansas Valley lying within the Stato of Colorc.do is considered for dovoloplilOnt under tho Gunniso~kansas projoc.t. Tho affectod terrain varies from rugged moun- tains to tho levol ro~.chos of tho Groat Plail1ll. . Tomporaturo variations aro as groat as thoso between Icoland c.nd Florida. Climate in tho mounto.ins is subhUlllid with an oxtrcmoly short growing season, whilo botwoon the' Rooky IAeunto.in floont rango nnd tho Colorc.do-Kansas Stato boundl11'Y tho ol:iJ!1D.te is arid. Avorago annual pro.. cipitation V"'--rios from 18.63 inohos at Loo.dvillo to .8.78 inchos at BuollA Vista. to 16.05 inohos at Lamar. Tho c.vorc.go length of tho frost-froo 1