The Delta independent., 1922-06-16
REPORT FOR UNcoMPAHGRE
PROJECT MAY 1922

Work was continued on the excaya-
tion and installation of structures of
several of the small laterals that have
been taken over for operation by the
Service. The uncollected water rent
ais for the year 1922 at the end of the
month amounted to approximately
$7696, $4,000 being collected during the
month The total cash collection to
May 31st ON account of water rentals
for the season 1922 amounted to $780,
333S7 The demand for irrigation wa
ter gradually increased until during
the latter part of the month practical
ly a full head was being carried in all
the project canals and laterals. The
cool weather which prevailed during
practically the entire month and the
cloudy weather which also existed
from time to time retarded to a con-
siderable extent the melting of snow
on the Uncompahgre water shed, and
as a result the Uncompahgre river
was in low stage during the entire
month AS consequence, the flow
thru the Gunnison Tunnel was grad
ually increased in order to maintain
the proper regulation in the river,
and on May 18th the Gunnison Tun-
mel was diverted 700 CTS in the valley.
This flow was maintained for several
days, after which the tunnel flow was
gradually reduced until the flow di-
verted at the end of the month was
only 300 C. f. s.
The county of Montrose and the Re-
clamation Service comparatively con-
structed a line of sheet piling about
800 feet long and located on the left
bank of the Uncompahgre River sew
eral hundred feet above the sluceway
works of the Ironstone Canal. This
sheet piling work was faced with page
fencing and ripraped on both sides so
as to prevent any overflow during the
anticipated high water of the Uncom-
pahgre river.
No difficulties were experienced in
operating the project system during
the entire month except the sliding
section Of the Montrose and Delta
Canal near M. P. $40. At this point
settlement began during the week Of
May 14th, and continued along the
lower end of 450 feet length so that
put the dragline to work throwing the
canal farther into the hillside and re-
inforcing the lower bank with the ex-
cavated material. At this time water
was shut off for a period Of about 21a
days after which a full head was
turned in, and this head maintained
until the end of the week. The mid
die portion and upper end of this
same section began settling to an
alarming extent during the latter
part of the week, and on Sunday night
it became necessary to shut down the
main canal headgates. The collapse
in this section was principally in
vertical direction, and it is estimated
that the middle portion of the origi-
nal canal bank settled in such direc-
tion to an extent of from 20 to 20
feet. The break was repaired by ex-
cavating a new channel farther into
the hillside by the use of the drag
line and by the construction of tim
ber f1ume 23 feet inches wide in the
clear, feet high, and 52S feet long.
Active work in placing the flume was
commenced on Wednesday morning.
May 31st, and the fume was complet-
| ed at p. m. on June 3rd. The main
canal headgates were opened Satur-
day at eleven p. m. and since that
time no difficulty has been experience
ed in maintaining full head thru the
canal.
Weather conditions during the
month were below the project average.
The total precipitation amounted to
| % Of an inch. There were % clear
days, 4 partially cloudy. and 4 cloudy
days. The maximum temperature
was 81 degrees on the 28th. the mini
mum 81 degrees on the 18th and 18th,
and the mean 81 degrees.