Cogjm.Bure Reclam Dev Co.Pdf (160.6Kb)
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. -~ BUREAU OF RECLAMATION DEVELOPMENT IN COLORADO Colorado's Centennial Year finds 10 Bureau of Reclamation water and land resource development projects in the state completed or under construction. The developments are the Uncompahgre, Grand Valley, Fruitgrowers Dam, Colorado-Big Thompson, Pine River, Mancos, San Luis Valley, Paonia, and Collbran Projects, and the St. Francis Unit of the Missouri River Basin Project. Eight of the projects made available in 1957 full water supplies to 97, 694 acres and supplemental supplies to 781, 647 acres. (Data on the San Luis Valley Project are not available and the1 Collbran Project is under con struction.) The gross value of the crops produced on the eight projects in 1957 totaled $81, 495, 163. In the same year, more than 12, 000 farms and 282, 000 persons were served with water from the projects. Seven powerplants on the projects have a total in stalled capacity of 186, 9 50 kilowatts. The following are summary descriptions of the projects. Uncompahgre Project (Gunnison, Delta, and Montrose Counties)--This is the earliest project constructed by the Bureau in Colorado. Construction began in .July 1904, and first water for irrigation was made available during the season of 1908. Project lands, which obtain water dive rted from the Uncompahgre and Gunnison Rivers, surround the town of Montrose, and extend along both sides of the Uncompahgre River to Delta, a dis tance of 34 miles. Features include the Taylor Park Dam and Reservoir, the 5. 8-mile long Gunnison Tunnel, 7 diversion dams, 143 miles of main canals, 425 miles of later als, and 215 miles of drains. The project was transferred to the Uncompahgre Water Users Association for operation and maintenance in 1932. In 1957, 60, 345 acres of land on the project received a full irrigation water supply. Grand Valley Project (Mesa County)--Water from the project is supplied to about 42, 500 acres of land along the Colorado River in the vicinity of Grand .Junction. Project works include a diversion dam, a 3, 000-kw powerplant, two pumping plants, two canal systems totaling 99 miles, 166 miles of laterals, and 165 miles of drains. First irrigation by the· Reclamation Service was provided in June 1915. In January 1949, the Grand Valley Water Users Association assumed the care, operation, and maintenance of project facilities, except those of the Orchard Mesa Division and the powerplant. The Grand Valley Powerplant is operated and maintained by the Public Service Company of Colorado, and the Orchard Mesa Division is operated by the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District. Fruitgrowers Dam Project (Delta County)--This project makes available a dependable irrigation water supply to about 2, 700 acres of highly developed land. Structures built by Reclamation: are Fruitgrowers Dam, Dry Creek Diversion Dam, and Dry Creek Diversion Ditch. Other diversion structures and the canal and lateral system were constructed by private interests. Irrigation of lands now encompassed by the Fruitgrowers Dam Project was initiated about 1890. A small storage dam built by the settlers failed in 1937, resulting in extensive damage. Construction of the new dam, Fruitgrowers Dam, was begun by the Bureau in 1938, and was completed in time for stored water to be delivered to project lands for the irrigation season of 1939. Colorado-Big Thompson Project (Boulder, Grand, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Sedgwick, Weld, Summit, Washington Counties)--This transmountain diversion development is composed of more than 100 separate engineering fcatures--including tunnels, dams, dikes, canals, pipelines, pumping plants, powerplants, substations, and transmission lines--integrated into a major irrigation and power system, spreading 250 miles over and through the mountains and out onto the plains area in northeastern Colorado. The proj ect diverts water from the Colorado River on the western slope of the Continental Divide to the eastern slope for multiple-purpose utilization. The primary purpose is to provide a supplemental water supply to about 720, 000 irrigated acres. The power potential in the imported water is utilized as it falls approximately 2, 800 feet down the eastern slope to the elevation of the irrigation storage facilities. The project's six powerplants have 1 ...,.l1;:f14_ ... • r, .' I /• i· a total installed capacity of 183, 950 kilowatts. The imported water also supplements the municipal water supply of several towns in northern Colorado, and project facilities are extensively used for recreational purposes. The Bureau operates all project features on the western slope and all works on the eastern slope above the supply canals leading from Carter Lake and Horsetooth Reservoir. All project works below these reservoirs are operated and maintained by the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. Construction of the project began in 1938 and was completed in 1959. .. Pine River Project (La Plata and Archuleta Counties)--This project stores spring floodwaters to provide a supplemental water supply to 9, 800 acres of Indian lands and to 41, 100 acres of land outside the Indian reservation. Irrigation water is distrib- uted through privately owned systems or through systems under the jurisdiction of the Indian Service. Project features include Vallecito Dam, 5 diversion dams, 196 miles of canals, 148 miles of laterals, and 19 miles of drains. Construction of Vallecito Dam began in 1938 and was completed early in 1941. The features constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation are operated by Reclamation with funds advanced by the water users, of which one-sixth is furnished by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Mancos Project (Montezuma County)--This project in the southwest corner of Colorado, consists of the Jackson Gulch Dam and Reservoir, the 2. 6-mile Jnlet Canal, and the 2. 2-mile Outlet Canal. The distribution system was constructed by private capital. Project works furnish a supplemental water supply for about 8, 700 acres and provide a domestic water supply for the Mesa Verde National Park. The major part of the distri bution system was constructed by local interests prior to 1900. Construction by the Bureau commenced in 1941 and was completed in 1950. The Inlet Canal, Outlet Canal, and Jackson Gulch Reservoir are operated and maintained by the Bureau of Reclamation. The distribution system is operated and maintained by the water users. St. Francis Unit, Missouri River Basin Pro·ect (Yuma County)--This unit is in eastern olorado on t e Sout ork of the Republican River. Principal feature is Bonny Dam, which provides flood control benefits and related benefits from fish and wildlife propagation and recreation. Construction of the dam began in 1948 and was completed in 1951. Construction of the Unit 1s irrigation facilities has been deferred. San Luis Valley Project (Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande, Saguache Counties)- The project, authorized in 1940, contemplates the construction of reservoirs and other facilities in the Rio Grande and Conejos River Basins for supplemental irrigation, flood control, and _hydroelectric power development. The project is divided into four divisions, of which only one, the Conejos Division, has had an initial stage of develop ment. Construction of Platoro Dam and Reservoir on the Division was started in 1949 and was comple:ted in 1951. Other project features are still under investigation. Paonia Project (Delta and Gunnison Counties)--This project will ultimately serve 2, 230 acres of dry land not now irrigated, and supplement the water supply for 13, 070 acres of the land now being irrigated. Project construction includes enlargement and extension of the 23-mile Fire Mountain Canal and construction of Paonia Dam and reservoir. The canal was enlarged and partially extended from 1949 to 1953. Con struction of Paonia Dam began in January 1959. The project was authorized by the Congress in 1947, and reauthorized in 1956 as a participating project under the Colorado River Storage Project. Collbran Project (Mesa County)--This project will furnish irrigation water for 2, 310 acres of new land and supplemental water to 18, 340 acres of irrigated land, and generate electrical energy for use in west-central Colorado. Planned project works include Vega Dam and Reservoir, under construction, two powerplants, several diversion dams, about 34 miles of canal, arid approximately 18 miles of pipeline and penstock. In addition, the project will modify the operation of 15 small reservoirs. Construction of Vega Dam began in the summer of 1957 and is now about 90 percent completed. Other features under construction include the Southside Canal and the Upper and Lower Molina Powerplants. # # # 2 GPO 112882 l'l!ll SffllT!• r.\~t~ORIAL llft .._J:"'~ .