7401

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7401
• Author: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
• Title: Ruedi Reservoir, Colorado Round II Water Marketing Program, Final Supplement to the Environmental Statement, Fryingpan - Arkansas Projects, Colorado.
• USFW Year: 1989.
• USFW - Doc Type: Billings, Montana.
• Copyright Material: NO

1.11
needed for replacement purposes. Water stored in
such category may be sold or leased by the United
States to water users in Colorado for any purpose
recognized by the laws of the United States:
Provided that the sale of water for use outside the
natural basin of the Colorado River can only be made
with the consent of the Colorado River Water
Conservation District. Charges for the use of such
water shall be established by the Secretary of the
Interior by appropriate contract in accordance with
the payment ability of such water users."
And finally, Paragraph 7 of the Operating Principles presents the following
authority:
"The primary purpose of Ruedi Reservoir . . . is to
furnish, to the extent of its capacity, in like
manner as if the project were constructed by a water
conservancy district organized pursuant to the laws
of the State of Colorado, the water required for the
protection of western Colorado water users by the
provisions of Colorado Revised Statutes 1953,
149-6-131 . . ."
The reimbursable construction costs associated with the regulatory capac-
ity of Ruedi Reservoir are $9,222,000 plus any accrued interest. As of September
30, 1987, the total was $11,668,000 less any payments received as of that date.
The payments will include those received from temporary water sales and sales
from Rounds I and 11.
The references cited above present the reasons Reclamation will proceed
with water sales from Ruedi Reservoir. However, Reclamation considers the public
interest in such sales significant enough to warrant environmental analyses of
alternative sales procedures. Since the reservoir has been in operation since
1969 with only sporadic water sales, the decision was made to address such
authorized water sales in a supplement to the Final Fryingpan-Arkansas Project
EIS (Reclamation, 1975). The analysis of alternative water sales procedures and
the supplement to the Fryi ngpan -Arkansas EIS are prepared in compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
Additional permits or approvals will be necessary on a site-specific basis
to implement any of the water sales alternatives. Before successful water
purchasers can use Ruedi Reservoir water an evaluation will be required of the
environmental effects of the facilities needed to utilize the purchased water.
In addition to a water contract from Reclamation, a purchaser may need to obtain