WSP08407

• File Number: 8270.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Water Quality/Salinity -- Misc Water Quality
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 10/1/1983
• Title: Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program - Big Sandy River Unit - Draft Planning Report/Advance Draft Environmental Impact Statement - October 1983
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

users, two pump lift stations, and a reservoir with storage capacity of

about 21,000 acre-feet.

Specific tasks, including evaluation of the

merits of export slurry pipeline use and preparation of a Level III

(plans and apecifications) report for the 1983 Legislature, were a).so

listed.

The State of Wyoming has studied a reservoir system called Plains

Reservoir consisting of four units stepped from near Fontenelle Reser-

voir to the Big Sandy River. Units A, B, and Care offstream and would

be filled from the Green River.

Unit D, on the Big Sandy River, was

considered for inclusion into Reclamation plans. The maximum capacity

of Unit D was determined to be 20,800 acre-feet based on the available

water supply.

However, preliminary findings from recent contract

studies for the State indicate the site for Unit D is infeasible due to

geologic problems, and Reclamation and Wyoming have agreed to delete it

from further analysis. Alternative sites are being studied by the State

of Wyoming, but these are outside the scope of Reclamation's investiga-

tion.

The State of Wyoming signed a contract on February IS, 1982, with

Chevron Chemical Company, granting Chevron an option to purchase up to

22,500 acre-feet per year from Wyoming's allotment in Fontenelle Reser-

voir. The water would be taken by Chevron, at company expense, from the

Green River at a point near the town of Green River. Section F of the

contract stipulates that:

1. Upon exercise of the option granted . . . and upon any required
approval by the Secretary of Interior. . " Chevron will pur-
chase from State and State will sell to Chevron a quantity of
water not to exceed 22,500 acre-feet per year.

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