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\ ;J PARSHALL PROJECT, COLORADO STATUS REPORT Introduction The Parshall project is a potential irrigation development of the waters of the Williams Fork River, a tributary of the Colorado River. The Williams Fork River and the lands that would be irrigated are located high on the western slope of the Continental Divide in Grand County in north-central Colorado. The extent of the development will be determined by economic considerations and by the amount of water available. The water supply will be significantly affected by the outcome of a pending water right adjudication proceeding. In the meantime a general appraisal of development possibilities under court rulings either favorable or unfavorable to project sponsors is necessary to Federal and State inter- ests in establiShing a schedule of investigations of potential water resource developments in western Colorado. The Parshall project is one of the potential participating projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin that were directed to be given priority in the completion of plan- ning reports by the Colorado River Storage Project Act of April 11, 1956, (70 Stat. 105). The findings of past studies are presented in this status report. The Middle Park Water Conservancy District which includes all of Summi t and Grand Counties was organized August 21, 1950, to promote water resource developments within the district. This district and the Colorado River Water Conservation District, which represents western slope interests in Colorado, are joint sponsors of the Parshall project. Present development The Williams Fork River now provides water for irrigation of lands in its basin. Part of the headwater flows are also diverted eastward through the Continental Divide via the Jones Pass Tunnel for municipal use in the city and county of Denver. River flows are also obligated to the extent determined by water right priorities to provide part of the water for downstream water users on the Colorado River. To protect these downstream users against interference by Denver diversions, the Williams Fork Dam and Reservoir hive beenconstructll'dby the city and county of Denver to provide replacement water. In addition to replacing water diverted from the Williams Fork River, Denver plans to use the reservoir to replace its transbasin diversions from the Blue and Fraser Rivers, streams parallel to the Williams Fork River 1vhich are also tribu- taries of the Colorado River. The dam is located on the ,?illiarns Fork Ri vel' about 2 1/2 !piles above the river' s junction with the Colorado