1. UNCOMPAHGRE VALLEY WATER USERS ASSOCIATION STEVE ANDERSON
UNCOMPAHGRE VALLEY FOOD AND FARM FORUM Where does are water come from? Where does it go?
UNCOMPAHGRE VALLEY WATER USERS ASSOCIATION
STEVE ANDERSON
NOT MY TITLE
INITIAL THOUGHT WAS WHAT ARE THEY AFTER.
HOW WILL I TAKE UP 30 MINUTES
NOW CAN I DO THIS SUBJECT JUSTICE IN 30 MINUTES

2. WHERE DOES OUR WATER COME FROM?
UPPER GUNNISON BASIN
WATER DIVERTED THROUGH GUNNISON TUNNEL
SOURCES
TAYLOR DAM AND RESERVOIR
OTHER DRAINAGES FEEDING THE ASPINALL UNIT
EAST RIVER
OHIO CREEK
COCHETOPA CREEK
LAKEFORK RIVER
CIMARRON RIVER
QUICK ANSWER IS RAIN AND SHOW FALL.
LONG ANSWER IS FROM THE UPPER GUNNISON AND UNCOMPAHGRE BASINS
IN 1935 TAYLOR DAM WAS CONSTRUCTED
TAYLOR RIVER IS THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTER BUT ALSO?????
EAST RIVER COMES OUT OF CRESTED BUTTE JIONS THE TAYLOR AT ALMONT AND BECOMES THE GUNNISON
OHIO CREEK JOINS IN GUNNISON FROM THE WEST AND NORTH
COCHETOPA CREEK JOINS FROM THE SOUTH AND EAST
LAKEFORK RIVER ENTER BLUE MESA RESERVOIR
CIMARRON BELOW MORROW POINT FEEDING CRYSTAL
WATER
IN THE 60’S THE ASPINALL UNIT BLUE MESA, MORROW POINT, AND CRYSTAL

3. WHERE DOES OUR WATER COME FROM?
UNCOMPAHGRE BASIN
RIDGWAY RESERVOIR
DRAINAGES FEEDING RIDGWAY RESERVOIR
UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER
DALLAS CREEK
DRAINAGES BELOW RIDGWAY RESERVOIR
COW CREEK
OWL CREEK PASS DITCH
OTHER SOURCES
SPRING CREEK
DRY CREEK
CEDAR CREEK
UNCOMPAHGRE BASIN LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER
DALLAS CREEK ALSO FEEDS RIDGWAY RESERVOIR
DRAINAGE BELOW COW CREEK AND A TRANS MOUNTAIN DIVERSION
COW CREEK CAN BE A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE BUT DRIES UP AFTER SNOW RUNOFF
OWL CREEK PASS DITCH DIVERTS WATER FROM WEST FORK OF CIMARRON OVER OWL CREEK PASS
SMALL CONTRIBUTION AS UVWUA RENTS THIS WATER TO RANCHES BELOW OWL CREEK PASS
OTHER SOURCES ARE SEASONAL EXCEPT FOR PRECIPITATION EVENTS.
SPRING CREEK FROM THE SOUTH AND WEST
DRY CREEK SOUTHWEST OF OLATHE
CEDAR CREEK FROM CIERRO SUMMIT AREA EAST OF MONTROSE

4. DIVERSIONS GUNNISON TUNNEL DIVERSIONS UNCOMPAHGRE DIVERSIONS COMMENTS:
350,000 to 400,000 ACRE FEET
UNCOMPAHGRE DIVERSIONS
500,000 TO 600,000 ACRE FEET
COMMENTS:
NOT BANKABLE NUMBERS
DEPENDENT ON WATER YEAR
WEATHER
MORE THAN HALF OF DIVERSIONS FROM GUNNISON RIVER
ROUGH ESTIMATE OF DIVERSIONS
VERY DEPENDENT ON TYPE OF WATER YEAR
WEATHER HAS A HUGH INFLUENCE

5. CANALS, LATERALS, & DRAINS
SOUTH CANAL 11.4 MILES 1000 CFS
WEST CANAL 21.2 MILES 130 CFS
MONTROSE & DELTA 40.0 MILES 500 CFS
LOUTZENHIZER CANAL 14.5 MILES 200 CFS
SELIG CANAL 20.0 MILES 220 CFS
IRONSTONE CANAL 14.0 MILES 400 CFS
EAST CANAL 10.6 MILES 170 CFS
GARNET CANAL 10.7 MILES 50 CFS
LATERALS TOTALING 438 MILES
DRAINS 216 MILES
SOUTH LARGEST CANAL FROM TUNNEL SOUTH WEST TO UNCOMPAHGRE
WEST CANAL FEED FROM SOUTH ACROSS A FLUME OVER THE UNCOMPAHGRE ALSO FROM A DIVERSION
M&D LARGEST DIVERSION ON UNCOMPAYGRE LONGEST CANAL FROM COLONA TO PEA GREEN ORIGINALLY PRIVATELY OWNED
LOUTZY DIVERT NEAR CHIPETA FEEDS MONTROSE AND EAST
SELIG DIVERT AT LASALLE ROAD FEEDS EAST SIDE HAS TWO TUNNELS
IRONSTONE 2ND LARGEST UNCOMPAHGRE DIVERSION FEEDS WEST SIDE ASH & CALIFORNIA MESAS
EAST CANAL DIVERTED AT OLATHE FEEDS EAST SIDE ORIGINALLY A PRIVATE CANAL
GARNET DIVERTED NORTH OF OLATHE FEEDS GARNET MESA AND DELTA
LATERALS 438 MILES LARGEST WITH CAPACITIES TO 60 CFS
DRAINS ANOTHER 216 MILES TO MAINTAIN OFTEN PROVIDE RETURN FLOWS TO THE PROJECT
WEST SIDE IS DEPENDENT ON RETURN FLOWS

6. PRECIPITATION Winter Snows Summer Rains
Should not discount the importance of local precipitation events
Farmers speak of million dollar rains
LOCAL SNOWS ON THE PROJECT AREA PROVIDE SOIL MOISTURE.
TIMELY SUMMER RAINS CAN REALLY HELP
THIS SUMMER ONE FARMER THOUGHT THE RAINS WOULD REALLY INCREASE HIS BEAN YIELD

7. WHERE DOES IT GO?
EVAPORATION Our experience on a hot August day this is a significant loss.
INFILTRATION One only has to look at the wetlands created around our canals and laterals.
TRANSPIRATION An acre of corn can transpire over 2.5 acre feet per season.
RETURN FLOWS Trying to balance our account has been attempted numerous times with out much success.
EVAPORATION WE HAVE A LOT OF TROUBLE DRYING UP THE TAIL ENDS ON HOT DAYS
INFILTRATION LOOK AT THE WETLANDS DID I SAY THAT—CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG AS WE PIPE WE MITIGATE FOR WETLANDS
TRANSPIRATION HUGH NUMBER OF THE ENTIRE PROJECT
RETURN FLOWS MAKE HELP MAKE OUT SYSTEM RUN PARTICULARLY ON THE WEST SIDE

8. EVAPORATION AND INFILTRATION
Estimated to amount to 35 percent of out diversions.
Installation of projects enhancements can significantly reduce.
Very expensive.
East Side Experience.
West Side Study.
THIS IS REALLY A TEXT BOOK NUMBER
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION HAS MADE AN ATTEMPTED TO QUANTIFY WITHOUT

9. RETURN FLOWS LEAVING PROJECT
LOUTSENHIZER WASH
EAST CANAL SPILL
DRY CREEK
ROUBIDEAU CREEK
SEEP CREEK
CUMMINGS GULCH
UNCOMPAHGRE AT OLATHE VS AT DELTA

10. CONCLUSION
He who expects the letter of the law in relation to irrigation to be executed with the precision of clockwork, and that infallible results will be obtained, has a small conception to the tangled web of difficulties in the way, and a meagre knowledge of the uncertainties of the element to be manipulated.
J.P. Maxwell
Colorado State Engineer 1890