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O-<:)t)lj"r~ HicllJrd L. Bro'.1I1 "'~ t.J .1- fciJrllJry 17, 1976 The discussion (paucs IV-99 to 101) on the ad~antageous effects of the supplclllenlal l'lat.er supply is again based upon 119,100 acre feet per year l'/hich may be erroneous as discusscd in my first comment on Chapter II. It is stated on page IV-107 that legislation now provides that the state may di rcct that pumps be tLJI"ned off during drought years. This statement is somel'lhat misleading since the Stilte Engineer will only administer those l'lells which are' not operating as an alternate point of diversion to an existing senior surface water right or \'Ihich are not operating under an approved plan of augmentation. On riage IV-lll it is indicated that nUlI!erous \'IaterfO\'ll developments are proposed in the upper portion of the flood pool ~~ich will result in considerable evaporation and evapotranspiration losses. Again, th~ impact of these additional consumptive uses of watcr upon the environ- ment, the project water supply, and vested water rights has not' been evaluated. This chapter does not address the source or amount of water needed for compaction of the rolled-earthfill dam. The amount could be significant and, if not diverted in accordance \'Iith Colorado water la\'I, could injure vested water rights. Also, water will probably be required for dust control purposes and road construction but the source of this water is not indicated. Chapter V - Mitigation Measures This chapter does not offer adequate mitigation measures to assure that vested wilter rights or the project water supply will not be adversely affected by additional evaporation and evapotranspiration losses resulting from seepage, shallow water tables, wildlife food plots, 'lIaterfm,l ponds, revegetation processes, and dust control. Also, mitigation measures are not offered for the consumptive use of water for road and dam construction if not utilized in accordance 'vIi th Colorado \,.]tel" la~l, \'Iilich requires that a ~Iater right be obtained and used in accordance with the decree. Chapter VI - Una~oldable Adverse Effects In paragraph B, Hydrology, it is stated that evaporation from the reservoir (23,500 acn~ feet per ,year) and additional consumptive uses in Colorado l'lill reslllt in a rlCuuction of average flo~1 of 85,000 acre fccl. IIOVlCvcr, i L dO("5 not rccounize lhe poss'ilJle rccluct'iun in flO\~ resulting ft'OIIl those aclcli Liunal consulllptive uses d'iscussed in my comments on Chapter'S IV illld V. Chapter VIII - Irreversible and Irretr-ievillJle Commitmcnts of Resources This chapter does not include those additional consumptive uses discussed in my comments on Chapters IV and V: