Way back here I promised to show you the photos and tell you a little bit about the Diversion Dam.
The Diversion Dam is where our irrigation water starts (and out potable water for our homes) out of the Gunnison River flowing through the Gunnison Tunnel. This is the dam and the little house is sitting over all the ‘workings’ that move the water from the Gunnison to farms along the Uncompahgre Valley (Un-come-pah-gray…accent on the pah). We live in the lower part of the Uncompahgre Valley…the irrigation water starts flowing through farms in Montrose, then Olathe and finally Delta. The water is used many, many, many times before it flows back into the Gunnison River on it’s way to California, Nevada, and Arizona. Water in our neck of the high desert is not wasted. Water in Colorado protected by law…we can not even catch rain water as all water must be allowed to flow back into the land. This link will show you other people’s photos of the dam and the tunnel.
Anyway, our water starts at Taylor Reservoir flows into Blue Mesa Reservoir and then starts it’s way down the Gunnison to Delta, through the Black Canyon.
Only a portion of the river is diverted at the Gunnison dam. The above photo shows you the water flowing onward after the dam.
The Uncompahgre Valley Water Users manage the water with senior water rights on the river. This house is where the people live who take care of the Dam and the tunnel on this end of things.
The Uncompahgre Valley Water Users and Delta Montrose Electric Association combined forces to start a hydro project on the canal…
You are looking at the gate that takes the water to the hydro.
Water…always a fascinating subject for me… Since I grew up at the foot of Grand Mesa (my father and grandfather had big orchards) water was always a topic of discussion. After getting married to a farmer we continued the water discussion …the one of — is there enough to farm with this year? Always a concern.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy your short trip. It’s always a treat to take people to see where the ‘water’ comes from, water for drinking and for irrigation in our tiny spot of the world.
You Western Colorado Friend,
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 
wow – not even allowed to catch rain water… serious water protection – and well-needed, obviously.
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Hope this next year will be better for all of you when it comes to water–but you seemed to work it all out this year the best that you could. Great set of photos. Black Canyon looks like a rough place!!!!! Wow!
Hugs,
Betsy
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Thank you for a fascinating post and pictures. It’s interesting to see the starting point for your water. It’s also an experience to learn how precious water is in your part of the country. That’s very different for someone who grew up in the Great Lakes part of the country.
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It always amazes me to see the engineering done by our predecessors to create t irrigation systems in places that were fertile but parched. So many of the canals were dug with muscle and shovels to bring water to the farms. They truly fulfilled the promise of a blossoming desert.
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Beautiful shots. And very interesting information about where you water comes from. I hope when planting season comes around next year, the water question is an easy one.
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Thank you! That was most interesting to me. Water! So crucial to us farmers and to all who need it to drink! I am always concerned for our waterways. The oil drilling and oil fields are a huge worry. Nebraska knows only too well…how hard we have to fight to protect our water and land. Beautiful country Linda. I didn’t know that you supply other states with water. The most valuable resource in this country. No clean water…no life period!
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Thanks for the information. I had never thought much about water until our area farmers had their supply diminished because of the Delta smelt,
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A great post about the life-blood of your farm …. and really water is the lifeblood for all of us everywhere isn’t it? Just not as immediately obvious for some of us as it is for you. Thank you for keeping it’s importance in our consciousness … and so clearly that even I can understand it!
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Great post, Linda. Our water doesn’t come from something so picturesque!! (just wells) Really pretty area. I do remember the Black Canyon…a scary, beautiful, deep place! I couldn’t go close to the edge! 😦 Love your header, too.
Blessings!
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It wasn’t until I moved to Colorado that I realized how precious water is. I love your post!
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Here is a bit of history for the diversion tunnel
http://www.waterhistory.org/histories/reclamation/uncompahgre/
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Great post. We are not allowed to catch rain water in Washington either. We have diversion dams along the creek to flood irrigate our meadows. But can only do it during the summer months. There are huge canals for irrigating farm land in Moses Lake, comes from the Columbia river and goes back to the river. So interesting how all that works.
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Wow.. I can’t imagine not being able to catch rainwater. Thank you and those like you who choose to farm in those situations. God bless. ♥
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It’s totally fascinating how man has learned to control water and make it work for him–much like an animal. Does the water ever get the best of the situation (snowmelt flooding)?
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I know for us in North Dakota we have huge problems with overland flooding and the land around Devils Lake is disappearing at breakneck speed. This lake is a monster that is gobbling up all the farm land and is endangering reservation lands too. The Red River and others can be deadly. The water rises so fast and they are still working on figuring out what to do about it. Whole towns under water and it is pretty scary. Recently it was an oil spill onto a farmers fields. So yes…it isn’t only flooding it is the worry of contamination of our water as well. For the past two years we have been in drought in our area of the state. Mother Nature?
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What a fascinating post LInda… if you ‘re not allowed to catch water on your roof, does this mean you don’t have guttering along the roof, and downpipes?
We catch all our water, since there’s no piped water out here in the wop-wops !!!
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