Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District

Available Augmentation Water

July 2007

     This is a summary of the augmentation water available for purchase through the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District.  For more detailed information about available augmentation supplies please contact the District office at (970) 641-6065 or ugrwcd@ugrwcd.org.  Copies of contracts are available here under:  Aspinall Unit or Meridian Lake Reservoir.

     Augmentation water is a supply of water used to replace depletions of an out of priority (junior) diverter in order to keep the affected stream system whole and prevent injury to the water rights of senior users.  The Upper Gunnison District has two sources of augmentation water available: (1) Aspinall augmentation water and (2) Meridian augmentation water.  An individual purchasing augmentation water is leasing or buying the right to have such water released to protect their use – they are not directly buying water rights.

     The two sources of augmentation water can be used alone or in conjunction depending upon an individual’s augmentation needs.  It is the responsibility of the party purchasing augmentation water to determine the amount of water that is required to protect his or her use.  The District can provide individuals with information to assist them in the determination of the amount of water needed, but will not provide any type of legal or engineering advice relating to the purchase of augmentation water.