WSP08927

• File Number: 8141.600.20
• Description: Fryingpan-Arkansas Project - Studies - Environmental Studies
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 10/12/1983
• Author: US DoI BoR
• Title: Draft Supplement to the Final Environmental Statement Fryingpan-Arkansas Project Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

0028

1.7

And finally, Paragraph 7 of the Operating Principles presents the
following authority,

liThe primary purpose of Ruedi Reservoir .. is to furnish,
to the extent of its capacity, in like manner as if the project
were constructed by a water conservancy district organized pursuant
to the laws of the State of Colorado, the water required for the
protection of western Colorado water users by the provisions of
Colorado Revised Statutes 1953, 149-6-13, . . ."

.

The reimbursable construction costs associated with the regulatory capa-

city of Ruedi Reservoir are $9,222,000 plus any accrued interest. As of

September 30, 1983, the total will be $10,398,000 less any payments received

as of that date. The payments will include those received from temporary

water sales and round one sales.

.

The references cited above present the reasons the Bureau will proceed

with water sales frorn/Ruedi Reservoir. However, the Bureau considers the

public interest in sdch sales significant enough to warrant environmental ana-

lyses of alternative sales procedures. Since the reservoir has been in opera-

tion since 1969 with only sporadic water sales, the decision was made to

address such authorized water sales in a supplement to the Final Fryingpan-

Arkansas Project EIS (Bureau of Reclamation, 1975). The analysis of alter-

n~tive water sales procedures and the supplement to the Fryingpan-Arkansas EIS

are prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970.

Additional permits or approvals will be necessary to implement any of the

water sales alternatives. Each successful water purchaser (excluding munici-

palities) will be asked to evaluate the environmental effects of the site-

specific facilities used with the purchased water. All purchasers would need

to obtain a variety of permits from the Bureau, the Forest Service and Eagle

County, dredge and fill permits from the Corps of Engineers, among others.

Additionally, if a hydropower project is constructed, its use of federal faci-

lities (the dam) and the need for a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission FERC

license would likely require preparation of an environmental compliance docu-

ment specifically for the project.