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WYOMING
<br />industrial and commercial investment rapidly began to flow into the basin
<br />to take advantage of the region's vast mineral reserves of trona, coal, oil
<br />and gas. The economic future of the basin looked very bright indeed. But
<br />a dark cloud threatened to disrupt this economic picnic.
<br />On a September day in 1965, the earthen-filled Fontenelle Dam
<br />experienced a structural failure of the spillway, forcing the emergency
<br />draining of the lake. After repairs to the dam, the structure continued to
<br />experience leakage problems until 1986 when a unique construction
<br />technology was employed to build a concrete cut-off wall, located in the
<br />center of the dam, built at full depth of the dam structure and extending
<br />over the entire length of the dam. The state of Wyoming contributed
<br />$3,247,283 to cover its portion (15%) of the construction costs for the
<br />project, which was completed in 1989.
<br />Development and changing demographics have added new
<br />challenges to water resource use and management for the Green River
<br />Basin. Concurrent with these changes, the federal government has
<br />refocused its efforts toward a more activist posture regarding environmental
<br />issues such as salinity control, clean water and endangered species.
<br />THE UPPER COLORADO RIVER
<br />COMPACT COMMISSION, LEFT TO
<br />RIGHT, STANDING: A.W.
<br />WATSON, ASSISTANT SECRETARY;
<br />L.C. BISHOP, COMMISSIONER FOR
<br />WYOMING. LEFT TO RIGHT,
<br />SITTING: THOMAS M. MCCURE,
<br />COMMISSIONER FOR NEW
<br />MEXICO; ED H. WATSON,
<br />COMMISSIONER FOR UTAH;
<br />HARRY A. BASHORE, FEDERAL
<br />REPRESENTATIVE; CHARLES A.
<br />CARSON, COMMISSIONER FOR
<br />ARIZONA; CLIFFORD H. STONE,
<br />COMMISSIONER FOR COLORADO.
<br />A review of the Bureau of Reclamation's 1946 "Project Planning
<br />Report No. 34-8-2, The Colorado River, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
<br />Service" states, "... trout fishing becomes less and less important below
<br />the town of Green River, Wyoming, and in Utah the only fish of
<br />importance is catfish."
<br />Today, however, the Fish and Wildlife Service enforces provisions
<br />of the Endangered Species Act that target the recovery of four endangered
<br />fish species in the Upper Colorado River Basin, none of which are catfish.
<br />This is accomplished through the recovery implementation program.
<br />Principles for implementation of habitat flow needs include
<br />habitat management, development and maintenance. Also, water for
<br />instream flows is to be provided as part of the comprehensive recovery
<br />program. These flows will address the upper basin habitat needs of the four
<br />endangered fish species as a system. However, water furnished for this use,
<br />and for the sole purpose of satisfying the requirements of the Endangered
<br />Species Act, shall be provided pursuant to state law! Generally speaking,
<br />these flows will be obtained through refinement of the Bureau of
<br />Reclamation's dam operations.
<br />Even though Wyoming does not harbor any endangered fish
<br />species or their habitat, the state helps fund this program with an annual
<br />assessment. Individual, industrial or municipal water development projects
<br />that are determined to be subject to Section 7 of the Endangered Species
<br />Act are required to make a one-time contribution based on the average
<br />annual water depletion of the project. Through September 1, 1994, 27
<br />Wyoming projects were in the recovery program. The depletion fee as of
<br />October 1, 1995, was $13.04 per acre-foot and is adjusted annually for
<br />inflation. Section 7 consultations also assessed a proposed project's non-
<br />depletion impacts (i.e., habitat alteration, inundation or temperature
<br />THE PADDLE-WHEELER, "COMET," DELIGHTS SPECTATORS AS IT PADDLES BETWEEN
<br />GREEN RIVER AND LINWOOD.
<br />Faced with the challenges of regulation, increasing water demands,
<br />drought and the elevated awareness by Green River Basin residents of the
<br />importance of water to Wyoming's future, State Engineer Jeff Fassett
<br />organized the Colorado River Basin Coordinating Council in 1992.
<br />This council includes an eclectic collection of representatives
<br />from state and local government, agricultural, environmental, industrial
<br />and private organizations and citizens. The purposes of the CRBCC
<br />include:
<br />• Providing feedback to the state engineer on long-term
<br />Colorado River operation issues
<br />• Providing a forum to advise interested citizens and
<br />organizations on the status of Colorado River issues, problems
<br />and concerns and disseminating this information to other
<br />Wyoming water users
<br />• Discussing proposed resolutions and steps to address issues
<br />and concerns through dialogue and mutual analysis
<br />• Providing a local resource for the basin upon which the state
<br />engineer can draw
<br />• Providing access for the thoughts and views of diverse
<br />constituencies that represent the council's membership
<br />The CRBCC is an important and effective addition to Wyoming's
<br />water resource inventory.
<br />Wyoming water users recognize that Colorado River resource
<br />management is a complex issue with many unresolved problems. However,
<br />goals and objectives must be formulated and decisions implemented in a
<br />manner that includes the concerns and interests of Wyoming's Colorado
<br />River neighbors while preserving the lifestyle so cherished by Wyomingites
<br />and those who share Wyoming's values.
<br />Perry Jenkins and the other founding members of CRWUA
<br />recognized these truths in 1945 and left the state with a legacy of
<br />cooperation for addressing present and future Colorado River water issues.
<br />Compiled and written by Ben Bracken, general manager, Green River-
<br />Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Joint Powers Water Board,
<br />Green River, Wyoming.
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<br />FREIGHT WAGON CROSSES GREEN RIVER DURING EARLY 19005 TREK.
<br />modification from reservoir releases, etc.)
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