WSP09512

• File Number: 8200.765
• Description: White River General
• State: CO
• Basin: Yampa/White
• Water Division: 6
• Date: 11/1/1979
• Author: Clifford H Jex
• Title: Plan for the Water Supply for Development of Oil Shale Industry in White River Basin - Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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002971

At present, the main use. of water within the Basin is for the irrigation of hay
meadows. Figure I shows that the sum of direct flow rights for irrigation with appropriation
dates senior to May 25, 1955, the earliest appropriation date of the undeveloped industrial
rights, exceed 900 cfs. All of these rights are not presently used in their full amounts.
Estimates by the U .S.G.S. show that 30,000 acres are presently irrigated within the Basin
and 22,000 of these acres are located upstream of Station No. 09304800. Water is also
used for the municipal supplies for the towns and ranches, and some water from the White
River is also used for industrial purposes in the Rangely oil field. In a repor/a) by the
Colorado Water Conservation Board it is estimated that the present uses, primarily
irrigation, result in an average annual depletion (1943-1960) within the Basin of
approximately 38,400 acre feet consisting of the following:
Use Depletion
(acre feet)

I rrigated crops

Riparian vegetation, nonbeneficial
phreatophytes, seeped lands and
incidental areas

Industrial, municipal, domestic and
I ivestock use and reservoi r evaporation

29,300

7,300

1,800

TOTAL

38,400

It is believed that the future new uses (and depletions) of water will be primarily
for industrial use to develop the coal and oil shale resources within the Basin, and some
supplemental water for irrigation. In addition a hydro-power development is proposed in
the lower basin. The coal reserves are located in two major fields, the Danford Hills area
north of Meeker and the lower White River area near Rangely. As previously discussed,
the oil shale reserves are located in the Piceance Creek area in Rio Blanco and Garfield
Counties.
The water resources of the White River Basin are not fully developed and represent
one of the larger potential developments in the Colorado River Basin.

(a)

Colorado Water Conservation Board and United States Department of Agriculture, 1966,
Water and Related Land Resources, White River Basin in Colorado: U.S. Dept. of
Agri culture.

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