WQ and Selenium

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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.

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Blue Mesa Reservoir
BLUE MESA RESERVOIR General Information Located in Western Colorado near the town of Gunnison, Blue Mesa Reservoir is Colorado's largest body of water. Blue Mesa Dam was built in 1966 and was the first and largest of the three Aspinall Unit dams intended to store and control spring flows on the Gunnison River. Blue Mesa Reservoir is 20 miles long and is the largest Lake Trout and Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States. It lies within the Curecanti National Recreation Area. Curecanti National Recreation Area 102 Elk Creek Gunnison, CO 81230 (970) 641-2337 www.nps.gov/cure Activities Boating, fishing, boat-in, developed, and primitive camping, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, and wildlife viewing. Facilities Visitor center at Elk Creek, campgrounds (8), marinas (2), boat ramps, day use / picnic areas, hiking trails, and Pappy’s Restaurant. Elk Creek Complex (970) 641-0707 The Elk Creek complex is the major facility of Blue Mesa Reservoir. It features a visitor center, the main marina, Pappy's Restaurant, campground and RV dump station. Campground consists of four loops with 160 campsites, water, electric hookups (Loop D), flush and vault restrooms, and showers also available. The marina offers in and out boat launching, a store, fish tackle, gasoline, boat rentals, kayaks, canoes, SUP's and boat slips. The marina and the restaurant are only open in the summer, while the visitor center and campground are open year- round. www.nps.gov/cure/planyourvisit/camp_elk_creek.htm www.thebluemesa.com Lake Fork Marina (970) 641-3048 The marina offers in and out boat launching, a store and tackle shop, gasoline, boat rentals, boat slips and guided fishing.
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Curecanti Unit Colorado River Storage Project
CURECANTI UNIT COLORADO RIVER STORAGE PROJECT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary Bureau of Reclamation, Floyd E. Dominy, Commissioner CURECANTI UNIT Colorado River Storage Project BLUE MESA DAM GUNNISON 0 <:- PLANT If{' -""~BLUE MESA DAM! ~1 ~~~~~~~!1li~"""~ Go POWERPLANT ill d, rF:_=~~~~:°w POINT DAMI "<-::.-:.CRYSTAL'----_..,. _____ DAMI ..., CURECANTI UNIT The Curecanti Storage Unit is an will stand 340 feet above the original important part of a vast program to streambed elevation. A 60,000-kilowatt store, regulate, and put to widespread powerplant will be located at Blue Mesa beneficial use the waters of the Upper Dam. Colorado River and its tributaries-large and small. The purpose of the Curecanti Construction on the Curecanti Unit Unit is to control the flows of the Gunni began in 1961 with the relocation of son River, a major tributary of the Upper about 6 1 /2 miles of U.S. Highway 50 Colorado River. Three other such stor through the lower part of the Blue Mesa age units are now under construction Reservoir area. Portions of the highway the Flaming Gorge Unit on the Green will be flooded during high water per River in the northeast corner of Utah iods when the Gunnison River is divert the Navajo Unit on the San Juan River ed through tunnels around the Blue Me in northwest New Mexico; and the Glen sa damsite. During 1961, surveys and Canyon Unit on the Colorado River in other preconstruction work will be com northern Arizona. pleted for Blue Mesa Dam. Early in 1962, the contract for construction of The Curecanti Unit will involve the Blue Mesa Dam is scheduled for award.
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Gunnison River
final environmental statement wild and scenic river study september 1979 GUNNISON RIVER COLORADO SPECIAL NOTE This environmental statement was initiated by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation (BOR) and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources in January, 1976. On January 30, 1978, a reorganization within the U.S. Department of the Interior resulted in BOR being restructured and renamed the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service (HCRS). On March 27, 1978, study responsibility was transferred from HCRS to the National Park Service. The draft environmental statement was prepared by HCRS and cleared by the U.S. Department of the Interior prior to March 27, 1978. Final revisions and publication of both the draft environmental statement, as well as this document have been the responstbility of the National Park Service. FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT GUNNISON WILD AND SCENIC RIVER STUDY Prepared by United States Department of the Interior I National Park Service in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Natural Resources represented by the Water Conservation Board staff Director National Par!< Service SUMMARY ( ) Draft (X) Final Environmental Statement Department of the Interior, National Park Service 1. Type of action: ( ) Administrative (X) Legislative 2. Brief description of action: The Gunnison Wild and Scenic River Study recommends inclusion of a 26-mile (41.8-km) segment of the Gunnison River, Colorado, and 12,900 acres (S,200 ha) of adjacent land to be classified as wild in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System under the administration of the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. D. I. This river segment extends from the upstream boundary of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument to approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) below the confluence with the Smith Fork.
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Work Starts on Blue Mesa Dam
... Work starts on Blue Mesa Dam On the Gunnison River in western Colorado, the Tecon Corp. has started work on the first dam of the Curecanti Unit of the Bureau of Reclamation's Colorado River Stor age Project. The 342-ft. earthfill dam will contain 3,000,- 000 cu. yd. Reservoir storage will be 940,800 ac. ft. and the powerplant will have a 60,000-kw. capacity. CONSTRUCTION of the Bureau of By GRANT BLOODGOOD The darn embankment will consist Reclamation's Blue Mesa Darn and Assistant Commissioner and Chief Engineer of three zones of selected material, Powerplant on the Gunnison River in Bure1u of Recl11m11tion each distinguished by its particular western Colorado began in late Ap Denver, Colorado structural and permeable properties ril. The darn and powerplant are the and by the method of placement. De major features to be undertaken on Blue Mesa Dam is to be construct tails are provided in the caption of the Curecanti Unit of the Colorado ed about 25 mi. downstream from the cross-section drawing. River Storage Project. The $13,706,- Gunnison and about 1 Y.2 mi. down 230 contract for construction of the stream from the town of Sapinero. Powerplant 342-ft. earthfill darn and 60,000-kw. Principal dimensions and characteris powerplant is held by the Tecon Cor tics of the darn and powerplant ap The Blue Mesa Powerplant, to be poration, Dallas, Texas. Work under pear in the accompanying table. constructed at the downstream toe of the contract is required to be com Geologically, the darnsite is favor the darn, is to house two 30,000-kv.
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Cogjm.Larson Letter Crsp 02-08-1951
, UNITED STATES DEPAkTYEhT O~'THE INfERIOR BUREAU OF RECLAMATION REGION 4 Post Office Box 360 Salt Lake City 10, Utah February 8, 1951 To the Editor: The enclosed press release, ma..!7&, and physical data on the potential Colorado River Storage Project and Participating Projects may prove valuable as source material in future reporting of the Upper Colorado River Basin development. Although the project report has been approved by the Secretary of the Interior there will not be enough copies for general distri- bution until and if the report is printed as a Senate Document. The accompanying fact sheets should give you sufficient data, however, until reports are available upon request. As you know the report is now being reviewed by federal agencies and the governors of the basin states. Under the Flood Control Act of 1944, they have approximately until May 1, 1951, to submit their comments to the Secretary of the Interior for subsequent submission with the report to the President and the Congress. E. O. Larson Regional Director DEPARTM:!::HTOF THE INTl::RIOR ~r:tEAU OF !t&CLA";:ATIO~T News release for Wednesday, Jan. 31, 1951 - 10 AI', KST UPPER COLORltDO RIVER DEVELOPMENT REPO:lT ft.PPROVEDBY SECRETARY CHft.PMAN A plan for development of the water and power resources of the Upper Colorado River Basin, which drains portions of five Rocky Mountain States, has been approved by Secretary of the Interior Oscar L. Chapman and sent to the Colorado River Basin States (Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California) for comment. The plan is in the fo~ of a Bureau of Reclamation Planning Report entitled "The Colorado River Storage Project and Participating Projects, Upper Colorado River Basin." The Report, which also goes to other Federal Agencies for review and comment, envisions the eventual construction by the Bureau of Reclamation of 10 dams and reservoirs with storage capacity of 48.5 million acre-feet of water and 1,622,000 kilowatts of hydroelectric cape.city and nume rous partici- pating irrigation projects.
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Colorado River Slideshow Title TK
The Colorado River: Lifeline of the Southwest { The Headwaters The Colorado River begins in the Rocky Mountains at elevation 10,000 feet, about 60 miles northwest of Denver in Colorado. The Path Snow melts into water, flows into the river and moves downstream. In Utah, the river meets primary tributaries, the Green River and the San Juan River, before flowing into Lake Powell and beyond. Source: Bureau of Reclamation The Path In total, the Colorado River cuts through 1,450 miles of mountains, plains and deserts to Mexico and the Gulf of California. Source: George Eastman House It was almost 1,500 years ago when humans first tapped the river. Since then, the water has been claimed, reclaimed, divided and subdivided many times. The river is the life source for seven states – Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming – as well as the Republic of Mexico. River Water Uses There are many demands for Colorado River water: • Agriculture and Livestock • Municipal and Industrial • Recreation • Fish/Wildlife and Habitat • Hydroelectricity • Tribes • Mexico Source: USGS Agriculture The Colorado River provides irrigation water to about 3.5 million acres of farmland – about 80 percent of its flows. Municipal Phoenix Denver About 15 percent of Colorado River flows provide drinking and household water to more than 30 million people. These cities include: Las Vegas and Phoenix, and cities outside the Basin – Denver, Albuquerque, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico. Recreation Source: Utah Office of Tourism Source: Emma Williams Recreation includes fishing, boating, waterskiing, camping and whitewater rafting in 22 National Wildlife Refuges, National Parks and National Recreation Areas along river.
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Uncompahgre Valley Public Lands Camping Guide
Uncompahgre Valley Public Lands Camping Guide Photo by Priscilla Sherman How to Use this Guide Camping in the Montrose Area Inside this guide you will find maps and descriptions Camping season is generally from Memorial Day of public lands campgrounds and camping areas in the Un- weekend through Labor Day weekend. However, weather is compahgre Valley region of Colorado. Located on pages 6 always a factor in opening and closing campgrounds. Some and 7 of the guide is a map and table listing each campgrounds open before or remain open after these dates campground and its facilities. Using the map, you will be with limited services, meaning water may be shut off and able to easily see which page of the guide has more garbage collection may have stopped for the season. It is information about each individual campground. advisable to check with the local public lands office for In the first few pages of the guide, you will find current conditions before starting your trip. general information about camping. This information Please keep in mind during the camping season some includes topics such as facilities, amenities, fees, passes, stay campgrounds may be full either by reservations or on a first- limits, pets, general camping rules, dispersed camping, and come first-served basis. motorized transportation. This guide was updated in 2016, so be aware that features can change. Enjoy camping on Plan Ahead YOUR public lands! This guide offers only basic information on roads, trails, and campgrounds. The Montrose Public Lands Center offers more detailed information on current conditions of trails and roads, travel restrictions, campground opening and closing dates, etc.
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UPPER COLORADO RIVER COMMISSION 355 South Fourth East Street Salt Lake City 11, Utah October 30, 1962 MEMORANDUM TO
UPPER COLORADO RIVER COMMISSION 355 South Fourth East Street Salt Lake City 11, Utah October 30, 1962 MEMORANDUM TO: Upper Colorado River Commissioners and Advisers FROM: Ival V. Goslin, Executive Director SUBJECT: Construction and Advance Planning Program of the Bureau of Reclamation for the Colorado River Storage Project and participating projects, et al 1 for fiscal year 1963. Note: this tabulation represents the distribution of all funds available including newly appropriated money 1 carry-overs, savings and slippage, etc. According to an announcement from the office of the Secretary of the Interior the details of the Bureau of Reclamation • s program of construction and advance planning for Fiscal Year 1963 include the items on the following pages of particular interest to the Upper Colorado River Basin. The Bureau of Reclamation• s Advance Planning program in the Upper Basin States includes two major projects--the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project in Colorado estimated to cost $170 million and the San Juan-Chama Project in New Mexico estimated to cost $8 6 million. The three "new start" construction reclamation projects for which Congress appropriated funds for fiscall963 are: 1. Glen Elder Unit, Missouri River Basin Project, Kansas 2. Oake Unit, James Section, Missouri River Basin Project, South Dakota 3. Morrow Point facilities I Curecanti Unit, CRSP, Colorado STORAGE UNITS: Glen Canyon Storage Unit $4514021191 --to continue placement of concrete in Glen Canyon Dam and to continue construction of the powerplant and switch yard; to continue progress payments on the turbines 1 generators I governors I and other materials and equipment furnished .by the government.
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Salt Lake City Area Integrated Projects Electric Power Marketing Final Environmental Impact Statement
Salt Lake City Area Integrated Projects Electric Power Marketing Final Environmental Impact Statement COVER SHEET Title: Salt Lake City Area Integrated Projects Electric Power Marketing Final Environmental Impact Statement, DOE/EIS-0150 Cooperating Agencies: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation Lead Agency: Western Area Power Administration, U.S. Department of Energy Written comments on this environmental For general information on the U.S. Department impact statement (EIS) should be addressed to: of Energy EIS process, contact: Mr. David Sabo Ms. Carol Borgstrom, Director Western Area Power Administration Office of NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42) Colorado River Storage Project U.S. Department of Energy Customer Service Office Room 3E-080 Forrestal Building P.O. Box 11606 1000 Independence Ave., S.W. Salt Lake City, Utah 84147-0606 Washington, D.C. 20585 Telephone: (801) 524-5392 Telephone: (800) 472-2756 file:///I|/Data%20Migration%20Task/EIS-0150-FEIS-1995/01eis0150_cov.html[6/24/2011 2:58:48 PM] Salt Lake City Area Integrated Projects Electric Power Marketing Final Environmental Impact Statement ABSTRACT The Colorado River Storage Project Customer Service Office of the Western Area Power Administration (Western) markets electricity produced at hydroelectric facilities operated by the Bureau of Reclamation. The facilities are known collectively as the Salt Lake City Area Integrated Projects (SLCA/IP) and include dams equipped for power generation on the Colorado, Green, Gunnison, and Rio Grande rivers and on Plateau Creek in Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico. Of these facilities, only the Glen Canyon Unit, the Flaming Gorge Unit, and the Aspinall Unit (which includes Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal dams) are influenced by Western power scheduling and transmission decisions.
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Morrow Point and Crystal Reservoirs Backcountry/Boat-In Campsites
National Recreation Area National Park Service Curecanti National Recreation Area MORROW POINT AND CRYSTAL RESERVOIRS National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior BACKCOUNTRY/BOAT-IN CAMPSITES U.S. Department of the Interior BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK Access to Morrow Point Reservoir: Pine Creek Trail (requires hiking down 232 steps) C B o e a a l S v te e v r C e Access to Crystal Reservoir: Mesa Creek Trail at Cimarron n re s S e te C k k u r e b e e C e e r A n k ON ALL RESERVOIRS: r To C S e E e Gunnison k Use a campstove or burn driftwood only. Even dead trees are used by eagles, hawks and other M D l a r Neversink t y s Trail y birds of prey as hunting and nesting roosts. C r C k Neversink C r r N e e e e e O r e Crystal C k L k 92 Dam 92 L Ground fires are only allowed below the high water line on each reservoir. If a fire grate is I TENDERFOOT D k d provided, please use it. e d e a HILL Cooper Ranch re R o M C Lake City R Crystal Creek R k Bridge S A k e o Pack out all trash. e u e r t e Windsurfing K Beaver Creek h C r Stevens Creek E Red C B C Area R E Old e p R Creek w a k a Y o v e C K l Stevens l o e e L (reservations needed i S r r k S East Elk Creek Willow C E for group camping) W T i e P t Group Camping e C n A Creek A k r T DIL e a L Dry Gulch (reservations needed) r S O e e c C O N e L r e PIN E N C r S A k u C IOLA BASIN R a W L C s E E e M Dillon S l RESERVOIR a r Pinnacles Dillon Pinnacles E r 50 R o BLUE Trail C MESA V SAPINERO BASIN O CEBOLLA BASIN Dry Creek Iola IR Curecanti Creek Hermit’s
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1972 Operation of the Colorado Riyer Basin 1973 Projected 0Llcrations
1972 Operation of the Colorado Riyer Basin 1973 Projected 0llcrations ANNUAL REPORT 1972 Operation of the Colorado River Basin 19i') Projected Ope tions (prepared pursuant to the Colorado River .Basin Project Act of 1968, Public Law 90-537) U. S. Department'of the Interior Rogers C.>B. Morton, Secretary Bureau of Reclamation Ellis L.Armstrong, Commissioner January 1973 Table of Contents Page Map - Upper Colorado and Lower Colorado River Basins ..... Inside Cover Authority for Report .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ......ii Introduction' ....... ~ ........ ... ........ .. .... .. .. .ii ActualOperations under Criteria -Water Year·1972 .....•.... 1 Upper Basin Reservoirs ..•.... ... ... ... .................2 Lower Basin Reservoirs ........... .. .............. 14 River Regulation ' 20 Beneficial Consumptive Uses 21 Upper Basin Uses >••••.••••••••••••• 21 LowerBasin Uses and Losses 21 Water Quality Control.. .. ...... .. ................ .' . .. 22 Water Quality Operationsduring Water Year 1972 .. 22 Future Water Quality Control.. .......... .. ... .. ..... .. 22 Enhancement of Fish and Wildlife ........ .. .... .. .. .. 23 Upper Basin 23 Lower Basin 23 Preservation of Environni"ent 2S Projected Plan of Operation under Criteria for Current Year 26 Determination of "602(a) Storage" .. .. ...... .. ..... .'. ..26 Lower Basin Requirements .................. .>. ........ 27 Plan of Operation Water Year 1973 ... .. .. .. ... .. .... .. .... 29 Upper Basin Reservoirs .. .. .. .... .. .. .. ..... .. .. .• .. .. 29 Lower Basin Reservoirs .... .. ...................... 33 At the end of September 1971, Blue Mesa Curee Bti Unit Reservoir had 532,300 acre-feet of active storage and a water surface elevation of 7,484 feet. During April-July 1972, inflow to Blue Mesa was 469,000 acre-feet, or about 59 percent of the long-time average. This amount of water caused the reservoir to reach a seasonal high of 7,485 feet and an active storage of 543,300 acre-feet early mJuly. During water year 1972, fishing was enhanced below Gunnison Tunnel by the flow of not less than 300 c.f.s.
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STATEHENT on CURECANTI UUIT, COLO., of COLORADO RIVER STORAGE PROJECT (1.Iodified Plan)
BR-4 Feb. '55 STATEHENT ON CURECANTI UUIT, COLO., OF COLORADO RIVER STORAGE PROJECT (1.iodified Plan) The Curecanti unit of the Colorado River Storage project is located on Gunnison River, a tributary of the Colorado River, in west centra.l,. Colorado. The report of the Colorado River Storage project and participating projects of December 1950 included plans for development of the Cureccnti and Crystal reservoirs and povrerplants. The Curecanti unit recommended in that report was for a reservoir capacity of 2,500,000 acre-feet. The State of Colorado requested that the reservoir nater sur face is limited to elevation 7520 or a capacity of 940,000 acre-feet. As a result the conr.u.ttee reports on the Bills before the last session of the Congress conteined the recorrJr.endation of the State of Colorado that the Curecanti unit be limited accordingly. Since the cost of po,•rer produced by the smaller dam ,1as somewhat higher than the cost of po,·1er produced by alternate iteans, ·,;e have endeavored to ,1ork out a plan for improving the economic feasibility of this unit. Reconnaissance studies of a modified plan are non v:ell advanced and indicate that a greater and more economical utilization of the po,·,er resources, on the Gunnison 'liver could be made by adding tno dams and poTier plants between the Curecanti and Crystal Reservoir sites. The resulting unit Ttould consist of an integrated system of four dams and po'\'Terplants. It is planned prir.i.arily for hydroelectric development and uould also pro vide benefits from flood control, recreation, and ultimately from irriga tion and other uses dependent upon river regulation or replacement storage.
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