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<br />Reservoir. One-half the incremental increase in demand would be applied above <br />the Dotsero gage and one-half would be applied above the Cameo gage. The <br />incremental increase would be considered 100 percent consumptive use and would <br />be distributed over a 12-month period. This would permit evaluation of the <br />impacts associated with maximum stress on the reservoir and the downstream river <br />system. <br /> <br />Under this alternative increased upstream exchange will not be evaluated, as <br />such an evaluation would require identification of a specific quantity and point <br />of diversion. Assessment of impacts associated with increased upstream exchange <br />will require environmental compliance on a case-by-case basis. <br /> <br />Where shortages exist under Alternatives 2,3, and 4, the procedures for <br />distributing these shortages will be discussed with reference to several <br />criteria including: (1) geographical limits, (2) limits by category of demand, <br />and (3) limits by certainty (time) of demand. While limiting criteria 2 and 3 <br />apply to both upstream and downstream (above and below Green Mountain Reservoir) <br />users, criteria 1 applies primarily to downstream users. For example, <br />preference might be given to users above Dotsero over those below Dotsero. <br />Users below Dotsero would, presumably, have access to Ruedi Reservoir water. <br /> <br />Alternatives Eliminated from Detailed Study. Several alternatives that were not <br />analyzed in detail were considered at some point in the planning and scoping <br />process. This section provides a brief description of those alternatives and <br />cites the reasons they were eliminated from detailed study. <br /> <br />The initial formulation of alternatives took place prior to the completion of <br />the Bureau's system-wide model for Green Mountain operations. At this stage <br />several alternatives were planned to evaluate the impacts of various water sales <br />levels below the requested full sales level of 22,800 acre-feet. These <br />alternatives would evaluate the impacts of limited sales or exchange of Green <br />Mountain water at levels between 10,000 and 21,000 acre-feet. However, initial <br />results of the reservoir and river system operational analysis revealed that a <br />sales level of 22,800 acre-feet, representing the full amount of Green Mountain <br />water requested could be met with only modest shortages in some months of some <br />years. Consequently, there was no need to evaluate the limited sales condition. <br /> <br />The point was made at several sessions during the scoping process for this <br />document that Green Mountain Reservoir represents an extremely important source <br />of water, particularly for water users in Summit and Grand counties. While <br />Green Mountain represents an important source of water, it is not the only <br />potential source available to these water users. <br /> <br />The Middle Park Water Conservancy District has water available for irrigation <br />and municipal purposes in Granby Reservoir. Both the Colorado River Water <br />Conservation District and Middle Park Water Conservancy District are in the <br />process of permitting a water storage project to be constructed on ~ither Rock <br />Creek or Muddy Creek. Water from this facility may be available by the early <br />1990.s. <br /> <br />Additionally, water users can and have purchased available water rights. An <br />example of this is the purchase by the Town of Breckenridge of agricultural <br />water rights in the Blue River drainage. Green Mountain Reservoir is attractive <br /> <br />vi <br />