What’s Up Around the Gunnison River Basin  COLORADO RIVER DISTRICT MISSION: To lead in the protection, conservation, use and development of the water resources of the Colorado River basin for the welfare of the District, and to safeguard for Colorado all waters of the Colorado River to which the state is entitled. Grand Junction

Aspinall Unit Consists of 3 Dams and Reservoirs

Blue Mesa Dam Morrow Point Reservoir

Crystal Dam and Reservoir Gunnison Tunnel Diversion Dam and Intake

Gunnison Tunnel Access Tongue Creek, tributary to Lower Gunnison River Intensive Agricultural Use

Uncompahgre Valley looking north Escalante / Dominguez Canyons Redlands Dam; looking upstream, low flow conditions What’s Up in the Gunnison Basin? • Identifying highly saline and seleniferous areas • Targeting and prioritizing such areas for efficiency improvements • Optimizing delivery systems • Piping and lining canals, laterals and ponds • Increasing on-farm irrigation efficiencies • Point source control, where feasible • Education and outreach (gunnisonbasin.org) Funding and Implementing Projects in the Gunnison Basin • Water quantity and quality Best Management Practices (BMPs) • RCPP: Regional Conservation Partnership Program • No Chico Brush – Farmer-led initiative • Salinity Control Funding Opportunity • Selenium Control efforts • Colorado Water Plan Implementing BMPs - Canal Lining

Purpose/Goal: To reduce selenium & salinity loading & losses by lining / piping canals & laterals Desired Outcome: Reduced deep percolation and loss that can mobilize / transport contaminants in soil (i.e., salt and selenium) Unlined earthen canal – Uncompahgre Valley BMP Case Study: Effects of Increased Efficiency

Sprinklers can eliminate up to 85 percent of losses, induced deep percolation and associated salt and selenium loading

RCPP: Regional Conservation Partnership Program • Five year program • $8 million program leverages additional $40-50 million in 4 ‘focus’ areas • 2014 Farm Bill; Funded through NRCS programs • Colorado River District is lead partner Salinity Control Funding Opportunity Approximately $30-40 million available for competitive award by US BOR Rotating funding every 2-3 years Point of Contact: John Sottilare, Reclamation Selenium Control Activities On- and off-farm improvements to reduce deep percolation On-going activities via various funding sources www.seleniumtaskforce.org No Chico Brush No Chico Brush is a proactive farmer led group promoting improved stewardship of agricultural water to secure the future of agriculture in the Gunnison Basin

Point of contact: Steve Schrock Important Considerations . Population predicted to double in the Gunnison River Basin . Changes in land and water use will result from population growth . Location and type of development is important where selenium and salinity are concerned . Cumulative effects of development in the basin are uncertain . Thus: Implemention of BMPs very important www.ColoradoRiverDistrict.org