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,-.-. UC-700 2/28/73 Preliminary Summary Sheets Fruitland Mesa Project Location Gunnison River Basin in west~central Colorado. Project lands are between town of Crawford and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument. Authorized Authorized September 2, 1964, as a participating project with the Colo- rado River Storage Project--Public Law 88-568 (78 Stat. 852). Current Status Advance planning studies were initiated in FY 1965 and the definite plan report was completed in June 1967. The repayment contract between the United States and the ]'ruitland Mesa Water Conservancy District was exe- cuted in June 1969. Petitions for project irrigation have been essentially completed. Water allocations of 38,026 acre-feet petitioned by 56 water users were recorded i.n 1972. There has been a substantial reduction in service'to new land acreages to match water available Negotiations are underway for an archeological survey of the project area to be made by the University of Coloradofcir the National Park Service. Assembly of data for an environmental statement and preparation of a draft for the statement are in progress. Preconstruction drilling at Soap Park Damsite was undertaken earliBr in the fiscal year and contin- ued until inclement weather forced curtailment of this work. The FY 1974 prOgram of $10,000, consisting of funds carried over from FY 1973, is to be used to determine the effect of the project on the sa- linity of the Colorado River and to estimate the cost for facilities to offset salinity effects of the project. A Congressional write-in for FY 1973 in the amount of $500,000 to start construction of the project is being held in budgetary reserve. Replacement of two inadequate and failing Siphons in the existing Gould Canal was started in FY 1972 and approximately 70 percent of the work has been accomplished. The work is scheduled to be completed by June 30, 1973, under a $362,274 contract. ,. Total investigation costs to June 30, 1972, including feaSibility and ~dvance planning studies, amount to $1,548,995. Plan of Development The Fruitland Mesa Project would develop water from Soap, Curecanti, and Crystal Creeks, tributaries to the Gunnison River, primarily for irriga- tion of supplemental and full service land and to enhance recreation and fish and wildlife opportuniUes. ' The plan eovered in this statement is the same as presented in the DPR dated June 1967.