WSP11765

• File Number: 8200.200
• Description: Colorado River-Colorado River Basin-Colorado River Basin Hydrology
• State: CO
• Date: 6/27/1950
• Author: Silmon Smith
• Title: Silmon Smiths Colorado River Analysis -- Analysis of Colorados Share of Colorado River and Its Use Consumptive Present and Potential
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Reservoir Site, the construction of which he urges. The presently
estimated annual evaporation on these holding reservoirs is 800,000 acre
feet of which Colorado must bear 51.75%, to wit: 414,000 acre feet. Any
change of reservoir sites will decrease or increase this figure.

Note 6. Page 186, Bureau of Reclamation 1946 Report, House Document 419, 80th
Congress 1st Session.

~Jote 7. Page 186, same authority; showing existing and presently authorized
projects. These transbasin uses consist of the following: Grand River
Ditch, Moffat Tunnel, '{illiams River ~version, Twin Lakes Diversion,
Colorado-Big Thompson Diversion, and other existing small diversions.
In this computation, Colorado-Big Thompson has been scheduled at 310,000
A.F.

Note 8. Report of Area Engineering Office Region IV. This is an increase of
44,400 acre feet over the amount presented to the Colorado Water Conserva-
tion Board by its engineering staff in December 1948.

Note 9. Present estimate on uncompleted study in progress by Area Engineering
Office, Region IV. This is an increase of 52,160 acre feet over the
amount presented to the Colorado Water Conservation Board by its engin-
eering staff in December 1948.

Note 10. This is the estimate furnished to the Colorado Water Conservation Board
by its engineering staff in December 1948 pending the completion of the
survey by Region IV, and based upon the error made by this engineering
staff in its report on the Colorado River and the Gunnison River is more
than 39% too low. Pending the completion of the Bureau Survey in Western
Colorado there is no better figure available.

Note 11. This is the estimate of Colorado Water Board staff in December 1948, and
although it is the best figure available until Region IV of the Bureau
has completed its study, this figure may be considered 39% too low for
the reason above set out.

Note 12. This is the estimate of Colorado Water Board Engineering Staff in Decem-
ber 1948 and eame observations apply as ~bove.

Note 13. This figure does not include municipal use in connection with synthetic
fuel development. No sufficient study has been made and it is believed
to be too small.

Note 14. This is the presently contemplated consumptive use of water of the paper
and pulp mill project to be located on the Colorado River West of Glen-
wood Springs.

Note IS. Mr. Boyd Guthrie in charge of the United States Shale experimental plant
in January 1949 at Grand Junction, Colorado, to the Colorado River Steer-
ing Committee, gave it as his opinion that the consumptive use of water
for processing shale at the rate of one million barrels per day, and for
the incident municipal use would be 268,000 acre feet of water per year.
Based upon his findings at the experimental plant, it' was his opinion
that such an operation would be in effect ~thin a decade, and that in
the event of war the peace time operation would be doubled or trebled.

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