Water users prepare for Gunnison Tunnel centennial celebration

MONTROSE — Celebrating 100 years of water provided by the Gunnison Tunnel, the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association invites Montrose, Olathe, and Delta community members, and all Coloradoans, to join in activities culminating with celebrations and ceremonies in Montrose at UVWUA headquarters Saturday, Sept. 26.

The water users association celebrated its own centennial in 2002.  The federal legislation that established the Bureau of Reclamation in 1902 also authorized the Gunnison Tunnel Project and formation of the UVWUA. Water users association Manager Marc Catlin said the benefits of the tunnel to the Uncompahgre Valley cannot be overstated.

“Opening the Gunnison Tunnel and then delivering the water to growers, made this valley green while attracting a thriving population,” Catlin said.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the populations of both Delta and Montrose counties more than doubled between 1900, when the idea was first developed, and 1910, one year after the tunnel was completed. The data show that the decade from 1900-1910 saw the most significant population growth in the valley.

Catlin said the water users association plans to keep the community informed about events through press releases, with public service announcements, and with appearances on television and radio as opportunities arise. He also invites interested parties to visit  www.uvwater.org (currently under construction) for information and announcements.

“We also ask members of the community with letters, newspaper clippings and other accounts of the construction and opening of the tunnel to contact our office,” Catlin said. “We want to include as many historic documents and personal correspondence from the era as we can in a publication celebrating the centennial.”

For more information, call 249-3813.

Hospice accepting vehicle donations

MONTROSE — Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado is accepting vehicle donations through the Cars Helping Charities program.

The program accepts almost any vehicle in any condition and all contributions are tax deductible.

The donation process consists of four steps. 1.) Call Cars Helping Charities at 1-866-701-2277. 2.) CHC arranges towing at a time convenient for the donor. 3.) CHC sells the vehicle. 4.) proceeds go to Hospice.

CHC is open seven days a week from 8 a.m to 8 p.m. Donors can call at anytime during those hours to start the donation process or ask questions. The program accepts cars, tucks, vans, motorcycles, RV’s, motor homes and snowmobiles.

For more information, visit the Hospice Web site at www.hospicewco.com.