Laserfiche WebLink
<br />which the call is in effect. The subordination agreement states that no water <br />rights will be injured, but does not specifically address the issue of selective <br />subordination. <br />Estimating the increase in yield of Denver's West Slope water supply <br />system based on a subordination of the Shoshone water right is a complicated <br />task. The system consists of multiple reservoirs, canals, and tunnels which can <br />be operated in various combinations to maximize yield. Since the elimination of <br />the Shoshone demand will allow unrestricted winter season diversions and <br />additions to storage (except for some in-stream flow commitments below major <br />diversion points), Denver's increase in yield will be due to elimination of the <br />need to make replacement releases from Williams Fork Reservoir. Studies to more <br />accurately predict Denver's benefit from the subordination agreement are <br />continuing, but preliminary indications of Denver's increase in dry year yield <br />are between 15,000 and 40,000 acre feet. <br />POTENTIAL IMPACTS <br />Elimination of the Shoshone call is expected to result in increased winter <br />season depletions by upstream transmountain diversions on the Colorado, Fraser, <br />Blue, and Eagle Rivers. Diversions for West Slope municipal and snowmaking uses <br />are expected to increase, subject to in-stream flow limitations and the need to <br />make augmentation releases will no longer exist. As a result of the above <br />upstream depletion, the flow of the Colorado River at Shoshone and of many <br />smaller tributary streams will be reduced. The attached table indicates that, <br />after the Shoshone water right, the next junior upstream rights belong to Denver <br />` and the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. <br />5