The Delta independent., 1915-09-10
Concerning Taylor Park Reservoir.

Within the next few days the men,
bers of the Uncompahgre Valley Wa
ter Users association will be asked
to express their sentiments on the
building of the Taylor Park reservoir.
The Taylor Park reservoir has been
considered from the beginning as a
part of the Uncompahgrc Valley Rec
lamation project. At various stages
of the progress of the project it has
been considered that possibly the pro-
ject can get along without the reser
voir, at least for q number of years
to come, if not altogether. At meet
ing of the Water Users board some
few months ago a resolution was
passed recommending to the Reclama-
tion service that the reservoir site be
acquired and retained by the govern
ment at the present time but that the
building of the reservoir be delayed
until such time that its need is mani
fest.
The past season, however. has
aroused the board to the fact that in
StdoohS ilht ihlS tnt "coiN Sui
fer greatly with a great deal more
land in cultivation and without the
reservoir to draw from.
In view of the fact that the build
ing of the reservoir will cost some
thing like s2.00O00O thus adding SO
or sl2 more per acre on the cost of
the project. 1t is considered a matter
which should be acted upon by the
stockholders of the association. Con
sequently a resolution prepared by
President Bruce covering the ground
of the present necessity of the build
ing of the reservoir and recommend
ing that IL be built at once will be-
mailed to the members of the asso-
citation to be voted upon by them by
means of blank ballots accompanying
the resolution.
Here is the situation which has
brought the matter to focus at this
time It is estimated that less than
a third Of the irrigable land under the
project is in cultivation at the present
time. Six hundred and ninety feet
has been at times during the present
season coming through the tunnel.
This leaves less than two hundred feet
in the Gunnison river. So 1t will be
seen that should the entire contents
of the Gunnison river be brought
through the tunnel but a little more
land could be watered In seasons like
E..l ka haa d,,- hot ha
ranchers tell us 1t takes about twice
as much water to irrigate as in normal
years.
In other words. with very little more
land under cultivation in the valley
than We have at present there would
not be enough water In the Uncom-
pahgre and Gunnison rivers to water
the valley In dry years like this,
Hence the immediate need of the Tay-
lor Park reservoir.
There is also more or less concern
right at present as TO the capacity of
the tunnel, II was supposed to be
large enough TO carry 1900 feet of
water. From present appearance the
present flow of $50 feet looks to some
as coming rather close to the capacity
of the tunnel. In response to a re-
quest for information on this line on
the part of Project Manager Pyle. a
communication from that gentleman
intimated that II was pretty hard to
tell the capacity OF the tunnel at
present because OF the railroad track
with the cross.ties which still remain
in the tunnel and which obstructs the
flow of the water to considerable
extent. OF course with the tunnel
lined throughout. all distractions re.
moved and under high pressure a
great deal more water can be forced
through the tunnel than might be sup
posed.
The resolution presented by MIR.
Bruce intimated that Il the tunnel
proved to be too small to permit the
full thirteen hundred feet OF water to
pass through. 1t ought to be the duty
of the government to enlarge 1t with.
out extra cost to the people under the
project. in view of the fact that that
was the capacity bargained for for
the Montrose Enterprise.