Source: Bureau of Reclamation

Diverse communities making beneficial use of all available water Agriculture Agriculture Municipal and Domestic Municipal and Domestic Recreation and Tourism Recreation and Tourism Coal Mining Coal Mining Hydropower Generation Hydropower Generation

Diverse communities making beneficial use of all available water Livestock and hay production 66,486 irrigated acres 578,380 acre-feet average annual diversions 72,481 acre-feet annual consumptive use 97% of current water diversions $46.2 million annually

Uncompahgre Project Taylor Park Reservoir, Gunnison Tunnel, 7 diversion dams, 128 miles of main canals, 438 miles of laterals, 216 miles of drains. Taylor Park Reservoir, Gunnison Tunnel, 7 diversion dams, 128 miles of main canals, 438 miles of laterals, 216 miles of drains. Supplies 76,300 acres of irrigated lands. Supplies 76,300 acres of irrigated lands. Principal crops are alfalfa, wheat, corn, oats, beans, barley, onions and fruit. Principal crops are alfalfa, wheat, corn, oats, beans, barley, onions and fruit.

North Fork Region 281,889 acres dedicated to agriculture 281,889 acres dedicated to agriculture 346,000 apple trees, 22,000 pear trees, 107,000 peach trees, 97,000 grape vines 346,000 apple trees, 22,000 pear trees, 107,000 peach trees, 97,000 grape vines Other principal crops are hay, corn, dry beans, squash, and vegetables Other principal crops are hay, corn, dry beans, squash, and vegetables Total crop value (2002) $16,551,000 Total crop value (2002) $16,551,000 Livestock includes cattle, buffalo, elk, llamas, exotic birds Livestock includes cattle, buffalo, elk, llamas, exotic birds

Diverse communities making beneficial use of all available water Municipal Providers Municipal Providers Gunnison, Crested Butte, Mt. Crested Butte Water & Sanitation District, Crested Butte South W&SD, Skyland Gunnison, Crested Butte, Mt. Crested Butte Water & Sanitation District, Crested Butte South W&SD, Skyland Lake City Lake City Project 7 Water Authority Project 7 Water Authority Orchard City, Hotchkiss, Paonia Orchard City, Hotchkiss, Paonia 12,000 Domestic wells 12,000 Domestic wells

Flat water Recreation Curecanti National Recreation Area One million visitor days per year One million visitor days per year $35.51 in direct spending, supported: $35.51 in direct spending, supported: $40.86 million in sales $40.86 million in sales $14.89 million in personal income $14.89 million in personal income 888 jobs 888 jobs $23.44 million in value added $23.44 million in value added Taylor Park Reservoir Taylor Park Reservoir Lake San Cristobal Lake San Cristobal Ridgway Reservoir Ridgway Reservoir Crawford State Park Crawford State Park Grand Mesa Grand Mesa Paonia Paonia

Stream StreamFishing Kayaking Kayaking Canoeing Canoeing Rafting Rafting Snow Making Snow Making

Total Production 16,140,389 tons Total Production 16,140,389 tons Total Sales Value $403,559,867 Total Sales Value $403,559,867 Property taxes $4,361,319 Employee pay and Benefits $93,805,041 Supplies and Services $88,338,000 Direct water use in production 1,200 acre-feet per year

Aspinall Unit Power Plants Blue Mesa Blue Mesa Outlet capacity 6,100 c.f.s. Outlet capacity 6,100 c.f.s. 60 Megawatts (load following) 60 Megawatts (load following) Morrow Point Morrow Point Outlet capacity 5,000 c.f.s. Outlet capacity 5,000 c.f.s. 156 Megawatts (load following) 156 Megawatts (load following) Crystal Crystal Outlet capacity 4,150 c.f.s. Outlet capacity 4,150 c.f.s. 29 Megawatts (base unit) 29 Megawatts (base unit)

The federal reserved water right doctrine The federal reserved water right doctrine March 2, 1933 March 2, 1933 National Park Service photo by Lisa Lynch

Base flow: Base flow: Year-round at 300 c.f.s. Year-round at 300 c.f.s. Peak flow: Peak flow: one-day peak one-day peak 1,300 – 14,000 c.f.s. - determined annually by a formula based on forecasted unregulated April through July inflow to Blue Mesa Reservoir 1,300 – 14,000 c.f.s. - determined annually by a formula based on forecasted unregulated April through July inflow to Blue Mesa Reservoir Shoulder flows Shoulder flows 85 day period 85 day period

Endangered Endangered Species Act Endangered fish and habitat – Gunnison and Colorado Rivers Environmental Impact Statement Environmental Impact Statement

Population increase to 2050 projected to be % - to >200,000 Population increase to 2050 projected to be % - to >200,000 Projected increase in gross water demand by 2030 is 14,900 acre-feet (underestimates municipal requirements in North Fork Region) Projected increase in gross water demand by 2030 is 14,900 acre-feet (underestimates municipal requirements in North Fork Region) Virtually the entire Gunnison Basin is already over-appropriated Virtually the entire Gunnison Basin is already over-appropriated (due to historic shortages at Redlands Power Canal near Grand Junction) (due to historic shortages at Redlands Power Canal near Grand Junction)

Colorado River Basin Upper Basin Wyoming Utah Colorado New Mexico Lower Basin Nevada Arizona California

Lake Powell Blue Mesa Reservoir Inflows to Lake Powell Percentage of 30-year average Navajo Reservoir Flaming Gorge Reservoir 2000 – 62% 2001 – 59% 2002 – 25% 2003 – 51% % 2005 – 105% 2006 – 71% 2007 – 68% Lowest 8-year average in 100 years 8.23 million acre-feet

Impact of a dry year