RELIEF DITCH DIVERSION MODIFICATION

• GUNNISON GORGE ANGLERS

• GEORGE OSBORN---PROJECT COORDINATOR• Gunnison Gorge Anglers• (970)872-3564

• CARY DENISON---PROJECT MANAGER• Gunnison Basin Projects• National TU• (970)596-3291• Cdenison@tu.org

Location Map

Relief Ditch Diversion

• Relief Ditch located 3.5 miles downstream from Pleasure Park and 1 river mile upstream from BLM takeout 4.5 miles upstream from HWY 65 bridge takeout.

Push up dam

Erosion---Riparian degradation---Downstream siltationOver diversion of water

Fish entrainment

Poor control

Fish passage barrier

Boater hazard

GGA project---Feasibility study Relief Ditch Board approval

Contact adjacent landowners---Find seed moneyProject management committee

Develop design and obtain cost estimate---Identify stakeholdersHealthy Rivers Fund grant

Identify multiple benefits---Gunnison Basin Roundtable grantIndependent design review

GOAL• Build a sustainable diversion structure that provides a better managed,

full decree of irrigation water to the Relief Ditch, improves the riparian environment while reducing erosion, fish entrainment, and barriers to fish movement as well as allowing safe boater passage and fishing access.

Required exemptions, permits and EA,Insurance coverage, legal advice

Professional accounting services---Engineering and construction supervision---Material sources---CRD grant

SCTF grant---CWCB grant---Hire contractorFormal groundbreaking

• November 11, Start of Construction Phase

• Contractor: Stonefly Earthworks from Montrose

• Imported and placed 4500 tons of large basalt bouldersmuch of which donated by Dr. Tom Whiting of Whiting Farms

• Moved over 20,000 cubic yards of material

• Poured nearly 100 yards of formed concrete

• 6000 man hours

Construction Phase

Design

The Process