2003

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 2003
• Author: U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Title: Quality of Water, Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1985.
• USFW - Doc Type: Progress Report No. 12,
• Copyright Material: NO

PART VI

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

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The Naughton No. 1 unit was in operation in 1965 and
its water use is included in the Comprehensive Framework Study value for
thermal-electric power. Records supplied by Utah Power & Light Company
show an average annual net use (diversion less return flow) of 5,670
acre-feet over a 7-year period (1977-83) for all three units at Naughton.
About 4,000 acre-feet of this amount are used by Unit Nos. 2 and 3.
Records provided by Pacific Power and Light Company indicate a level of
use of about 25,000 acre-feet for all four units at the Jim Bridger
Powerplant. Depletions in 1983 for thermal-electric units built since
1965 are estimated to be 29,000 acre-feet a year.

The Wyoming State Engineer's Office estimates that
water uses for new thermal-electric power generation will increase by
15,000 and 37,000 acre-feet in 1990 and 2000, respectively. Also, an
additional 10,000 acre-feet of depletion will develop at the Jim Bridger
Powerplant when transmission restrictions are lifted. Water for the Jim
Bridger Powerplant is provided out of Fontenelle Reservoir by contract
with the State. Water for the Naughton Powerplant is developed from a
private water right.

(2) Mineral

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Considerable development of the trona, oil, and
natural gas industries has occurred in the Green River Basin since the
Comprehensive Framework Study was made. In 1982, the Wyoming State
Engineer's Office estimated that 23,700 acre-feet of additional deple-
tions had occurred in the mineral industry.

It also projects that depletions will increase by
10,000 and 26,000 acre-feet by the years 1990 and 2000, respectively.
Part of this increase could result from a proposed fertilizer plant
to be built by Chevron. Chevron has signed a contract with the State
of Wyoming to purchase water from the State's allocation in Fontenelle
Reservoir or from the Big Sandy River Unit for use in a phosphate
fertilizer plant. A slurry pipeline will carry phosphate ore from the
mining area near Vernal, Utah, to the plant located near Rock Springs
where the slurry water will be used as processed water.

(3) Coal Gasification

The Wyoming State Engineer's Office estimates that
by the year 2000 the coal gasification industry will deplete about
10,000 acre-feet yearly.

(4) Oil Shale

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Predictions on the future development
shale industry always involve a high degree of uncertainty.
State Engineer's Office estimates a depletion by this use of
acre-feet in 2000.

of the oil
The Wyoming
about 3,000

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