WSP10758

• File Number: 7630.225
• Description: Wild and Scenic-Elk River
• State: CO
• Date: 3/29/1974
• Title: Elk W and S Study-Hinman Park Res-Miscellaneous Court Documents-March 1974-September 1979
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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in view of the fact that SCIre of the land in the area where the prpjects
are proposed to be ocated belongs to the United States and is adrriinistered
by the Departrcent 0 Agriculture through the Forest Service. Accordingly,
in July of 1975 arr gerrents were made with Dr. Elizabeth Ann M:>rris of
the Colorado State niversity Department of Anthropology to rondust such
a study. A ssance was carried out by her in August, 1975'1 and
her report sul::mit on November 12, 1975. The archaeological study was
carried out at a to cost to applicant of $1,990.00. I' ,

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C. In of 1975 the managerrent of applicant beg~ to
give serious consi ration to acquisition of necessary land in the' ,area
where the projects .11 be located. In February of 1976 title nenbranda
was received fran local title CCIJFCIIly in Steamboat Springs, ful:nishing
applicant detailed omation concerning the various owners of 1aDds in
the area. After eiving this applicant budg-eted substantial funl3.s for
land purchase. In SI.llll1"er of 1976 several conferences were held to
detennine the best Y to accarplish desired land purchases. In December
of that year a 104 ere tract, lying alnost entirely within the p~sed
reservoir site, was fOlUld available for sale and after an appraisal in
March, 1977 the p was duly purchased in August of that yeax:: :The
tract of land just eferred to was acquired at a cost to applicant of
$130,000.00 plus no closing costs, legal fees and appraisal charges.
Applicant plans to ursue diligently its land acquisition program lin the
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proJ area. I,
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24, 1977 awlicant received a letter fran I~
Service in Steamboat Springs requesting inf~tion
concerning applican 's plans for its Hinman Park project. The inf6nra-
tion requested was uly furnished. In 1978, awlicant received ndtioe that
public neetings con rning the Elk River Wild and Scenic River stl.idy 1rIOuld
be held in Steanboa Springs in April of 1978. Counsel for applidant at- '
tended the neeting Stearrboat Springs concerning the effects of ldesignating
the Hinman Park p . ect area part of a wild and scenic river terr~~.
Public Servioe Y personnel also attended. a similar neeting in
Denver and in addi . on to presenting applicant I s views at the neeting, a
detailed written s tarent was sul:ll1itted to the Forest Servioe and, the
Colorado Water tion Board on May 1, 1978. In addition to l1.ega1
fees to counsel at . g the Steamboat Springs neeting, substantial'
C'CIIl?<=y tine was s t by applicant I s employees in the various =rltacts
with govenmental ficials undertaking this study. Since the sbldy' is
not yet carplete, e will undoubtedly be additional tirre and ~
in=red by appli t in the future in this area. I;
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E. To in ligently plan a project of the scope envisioriea. by
applicant, ongoing ydrological studies are obviously necessary. lAs' a
result, in the la spring of 1977 the firm of Leonard Rice Consulting
\'ater Engineers, . of 2695 Alcott Street, Denver, Colorado, waS'
retained by appli t. On SeptenDer 12, .1978 a preliminary report was
issued by this f' on the anticipated yield of the Hirunan Park RfhSe:I:voir
and Saddle M:>unta. Punp Station conditional water rights owned bY
applicant. The rt des=ibed the derivation of flow at each site' as
a means of de the physical availability of water to the tig1lts
and the dependable ield of the PJ.oposed reservoir. Data set forth in
this report was ob . ed fran extrapolations of recorded flows from the
closest gauging s tions in the area, review of run-off records, an.uyses
of historic uses b senior awropriatars in the area and other data.
Part of the data' the report was based on information gathered On the
site of the proj A total of approxmate1y $3,500.00 has alr6ady
been paid to this ineering firm for services rendered and appliCant
anticipates that s tantial additional studies will be necessary I ,in the
future.
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F. A s tantial arrount of legal 1rIOrk has been necessarY in
the past four Y due to the filing of other prooeeOi 1"\gs in \'at&-
Division lob. 6. of these natters \riere pending prior to Sept5nber,
1974, but awlican 's participation in than as delineated below cOvers
the pericxl since S ptenber 30, 1974: i: .

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Right Doctrine fil
that at the tine

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United States of Airerica under the Federal Reserved
seven actions in \'ater Divisions 4, 5 and 6,: claiming
ious national forests, rronuments and a national 'park

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