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'~',,"I "J ~'" r -' uuluc);) 'Revised Supplemental Draft Environmental Assessment-Chapter 3-Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences Existing Conditions: Three ~xisting water rights cite the Price-Stubb Diversion Dam as their decreed point of diversion. The first of these is a 573 cfs water right for power generation with an appropriationS ~date of October 1, 1889 and adjudication6 date of July 22, 1912. This right is owned by the Palisade Irrigation District (PID) and was used to operate hydraulic pumps to lift their irrigation water. The power right has not been used since 1918; since then, PID's water has been delivered through the Government Highline Canal. The Palisade Irrigation District has retained the right to use the power right to pump irrigation water if irrigation deliveries cannot be m"ade through the Government Highline Canal. The second right is a 2,100 cfs conditional water right 7 for hydroelectric power generation with an appropriation date of December 20, 1980 and an adjudication date of December 31, 1983. This right is owned by Mr. Eric Jacobson and is associated with the proposed Jacobson Hydro No. 1 Project, which would use the Price-Stubb Diversion Dam to divert Colorado River flows to its hydropower plant. As discussed previously, it is assumed that the Hydro No.1 Project would not be constructed because of the terminated FERC license. The third right is a 120 cfs water right for domestic, municipal and industrial uses with an appropriation date of February 17, 1947 and adjudication. date of July 25, 1959. Eighty cfs of this right is owned by the City of Grand Junction, 20 cfs by the Clifton Water District and 20 cfs by the Water Development Company. The decree for this right lists five alternate points of diversion, with the Price-Stubb Diversion Dam being one of the decreed points. Approximately 19 cfs of this right has been made absolute8. The right was perfected by pumping from the Colorado River at the Clifton Water District Treatment Plant approximately 6 miles downstream from the Price-Stubb Diversion Dam. No water has been diverted at the Price-Stubb Diversion Dam under this water right. Impacts No Action: The No Action alternative would have no effect on these water rights. The opportunity to use PID' s power right to lift irrigation water if the Government Highline Canal was unable to make deliveries would continue. The probability of using the Price-Stubb Diversion Dam to provide an emergency irrigation water supply is very remote. Pumping and conveyance facilities to support this use no longer exist, and it would require a substantial amount of time and money to reestablish them. Likewise, the opportunity to use the Price-Stubb Diversion Dam' as a forebay to pump domestic, municipal and industrial water would continue. However, the probability of using this 5 Appropriation: applying water to a beneficial use. Often used interchangeably with the term water right. 6 Adjudication: the judicial process through which existence of a water right is confirmed by court decree. 7 Conditional water right: an appropriation that has not yet been made absolute by the water court. 8 Absolute: In Colorado, a conditional water right owner must prove diligence in completing work necessary to apply the water to a beneficial use before the water court makes the water right absolute (also termed perfected). 26