WSP10287 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

onG92:1 system of pumping stations, pipelines, reservoirs, tanks, and a single large tailing pond. 'Consumptive use' of water is primarily associated with evaporation from the tailing pond and reservoirs, together with the consumption of water "trapped' within the deposited tailing sands. Historic stream depletions averaged about 2,200 acre-feet during the CROSS study period of 1975 through 1991, with a maximum of about 3,700 acre-feet in 1980. Water to replace the system losses and provide the necessary process water is diverted from Ute Creek, a small tributary of the Williams Fork, at several intake points. Additional water is diverted from the mainstem of the Williams Fork River at the Williams Fork pump station on an as-needed basis. The pump station capacity is 8.8 cfs. The Henderson Mill is a closed circuit, non-discharging facility. Accordingly, the diversion efficiency is 100 percent and all water that is diverted into the industrial process system is ultimately consumed. Storage facilities at the mill include Ute Creek Reservoir (100 acre-feet) and East Branch Reservoir (2,000 acre-feet). The tailing pond itself is capable of storing several thousand acre-feet of additional water which can be used and re-used in the milling processes. Water rights used at the Henderson Mill include the 'Henderson Mine Water System, " the Ute Park storage right, and the Cabin-Meadow Creek water rights agreement. The Henderson Mine Water System water right includes a number of senior irrigation watef rights that were changed in Case No. W-528 to allow industrial use. The annual volume of water that may be diverted into the mill system and consumptively used pursuant to this right is limited to 704 acre-feet per year and the diversions afe limited to the spring and summef period when the Shoshone call is not in effect. The Ute Park storage right is absolute in the amount of 2,100 acre-feet and conditional for an additional 3,900 acre..feet. This water right is junior to Denver's Williams Fork Reservoir, so the right may only be exefcised during years in which Williams Fork Reservoir fills. The Cabin-Meadow Creek watef rights agreement is a complex agreement among the Climax Molybdenum Company, the Denver Water Board, and the City of Englewood (see separate documentation). In the early 1970's, these parties jointly constructed the Cabin Meadow Creek Project, a diversion and storage project in the Fraser River basin. The Henderson Mill does not directly make use of the Fraser basin water, but instead diverts water from the Williams Fork basin pursuant to a replacement agreement with Denver. Pursuant to the agreement, Henderson is entitled to divert up to 3,000 acre-feet per year from Ute Creek and/or the Williams Fork River on a year-round basis as necessary to the meet the milling demand. To the extent that Henderson requires water during periods when Denver would otherwise be exercising its senior rights at its Williams Fork Collection system, the Henderson water in Meadow Creek Reservoir is credited to Denver's account in the reservoir in an amount equivalent to the amount of out-of-priority diversion 'by Henderson. Also in accordance with the Agreements, at times when the Shoshone call is in effect, replacement releases are made by Denver from Williams Fork Reservoir for the benefit of Henderson. This Henderson replacement account in Williams Fork Reservoir contains up to 2,200 acre-feet. 1-4