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o ~ ("') C.J CHAPTER III BASIS FOR ANALYSES the total dissolved solids (TDS) varied from 102 to 255 mg/l. During the same period, 54 samples were taken from the river about 10 miles downstream from Meeker in which the TDS range was 170 to 800 mg/l. Much of this increase in salinity occurs as the White River passes an area of saline water seepage about 3 miles east of Meeker. During the same period, 42 samples taken from Milk Creek about 5 miles above Highway 13 ranged from 180 to 561 mg/l. Downstream, below the irrigated lands, 18 samples taken in 1965 and 1966 showed a range of 213 to 2,030 mg/l. In contrast to the upper White River, the lower White River and Milk Creek are usually turbid because of the unstable nature of their drainages. Water tempera- tures from Powell Park upstream are suitable for trout fisheries. Effects on Colorado River system Depletions in the flows of the Colorado River, with resultant in- creases in the salinity concentrations of the river, would occur with the various alternative plans considered. Estimates of the depletions are based on 100 percent consumptive use for coal and oil shale use, 35 percent for municipal use, 56 percent for irrigation, and a net evapora- tion loss of about 1.6 feet a year. It is anticipated that with all the alternative plans salt pickup in return flows from municipal and irriga- tion uses would be more than offset by the salts removed with the full consumptive use of industrial water. Accordingly there would be a net reduction in the salt load to the Colorado River with each alternative. The amount of the reductions have not been estimated, however, and the changes in salt load are considered as zero for this report. Project water rights Water rights required for the project were granted to the Yellow Jacket Water Conservancy District on November 21, 1966, by conditional decrees of the district courts for Rio Blanco and Moffat Counties. These rights, with an appropriation date of November 9, 1953, and a pri- ority number of 652, provided for the use of the water for irrigation, domestic, municipal, and industrial purposes, and other beneficial uses and purposes. These rights provide for annual storage of 27,991.7 acre- feet in Ripple Reservoir and 33,541.3 acre-feet in Lost Park Reservoir, features in the former feasibility report plans. The decrees also grant a natural flow right of 500 second-feet from the North Fork of the White River for diversion to the Yellow Jacket Canal. The water rights could be transferred to a new plan of development by a court decree from the district court. The Yellow Jacket Water Conservancy District is now in the process of acquiring other water rights needed for the project, including rights to store 31,807.6 acre-feet annually in Thornburgh Reservoir aod to di- vert 70 second-feet from Morapos Creek to Milk Creek and 90 second-feet from Milk Creek to the Milk Creek Canal. If the Yellow Jacket Project provides water for oil shale, the consumptive use would be charged against any water rights owned by the benefiting company. 22