WSP12116

• File Number: 8141
• Description: Fryingpan-Arkansas Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Date: 1/1/1981
• Author: Wright Water Enginee
• Title: Operational Study of Ruedi Reservoir Releases For Dow Pumping Plant and Pipeline Replacement Water
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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'~{" " " OPERATIONAL STUDY OF RUEOI RESERVOIR RELEASES
.;I".J~OR DOW PUMPING PLANT AND PIPELINE REPLACEMENT WATER

SECTION I - BACKGROUND

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
This report presents the findings of a study prepared by Wright Water Engi-
neers at the request of the Colony Shale Oil Project. This work is part of
an overa 11 effort concerni ng rep 1 acement water requi red to protect down-
stream senior water rights when the Colony Shale Oil Project is diverting
water from the Colorado River out of priority. The major objective of this
study is to investigate the timing and volume of required releases from
Ruedi Reservoir for replacement and the effect of these releases on stream-
flows downstream from the reservoir. Analysis is also included concerning
the effects of these releases on downstream water qual ity and Ruedi Reser-
voir levels.

COLONY SHALE OIL PROJECT
The Colony Shale Oil Project is a mining and retort operation being devel-
oped to produce oil from shale. The project is located in the Parachute
Creek drainage approximately 16 miles north of the Town of Parachute. (See
Figure 1.) It is planned that the Colony Shale Oil Project plant will
derive its primary industrial water supply from the Dow Pumping piant and
Pipeline. This water right diverts from the main stem of the Colorado River
and has an appropri ation date of January 24, 1955, and an adjudication date
of November 10, 1966. While the Dow Pumping Plant and Pipeline was decreed
for a total of 178 cfs, 20 cfs of this amount was conveyed to Battlement
Mesa, Inc. for municipal purposes and transferred by court decree to an
alternate poi nt of di vers ion on the south bank of the Co 10rado River. The
remaining 158 cfs of this water right diverts from the north bank of the
Colorado River and remains in the ownership of Colony Shale Oil Project.
This detailed operational study is for the 15 cfs of the Dow Pumping Plant
and Pipeline right which will be used by the Colony Shale Oil Project in its
initial level of development for industrial and related oil shale uses.

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