7850

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7850
• Author: Hydrosphere Resource Consultants.
• Title: Yampa River Basin Recommended Alternatives, Detailed Feasibility Study
• USFW Year: 1994.
• USFW - Doc Type: Draft.
• Copyright Material: NO

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Reservoir Operating Studies
I EARLY OPERATING STUDIES
Studies of the Juniper Contemplated Draft
The Contemplated Draft of the 1954 Juniper water rights was estimated by implementing
the water rights and operation of the original Juniper Project in the basin model. The water
rights represented included the Deadman Bench Canal direct flow right for 550 cfs, the
hydropower direct flow right of 1000 cfs, and the storage right for 825,294 of (the original
' storage decree for 844,000 of was reduced by 18,706 of to reflect previous transfers). Juniper
Reservoir was modeled with a total capacity of 844,000 of and dead storage of 73,226 af.

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Two scenarios were defined to obtain preliminary estimates of the Contemplated Draft.
In the first, the Juniper rights were operated in their correct priority position; in the second, the
Juniper rights were operated in a subordinated priority position, junior to all current demands.
Common to both scenarios was the use of the "current potential" demand level. Based on the
first of these scenarios, if the original Juniper Project were in existence today and operated
using its 1954 water rights without regard to any specific or general subordination, the total
draft of the Juniper rights would average 863,524 of per year. On the average, about 96,000 of
of this draft is due to direct flow diversions through the Deadman Bench Canal and 339,910 of
from direct flow diversions for hydroelectric power generation; the remaining 427,538 of is
diverted to storage in Juniper Reservoir. The annual draft of the Juniper Project ranges from a
high of 1.23 million acre-feet (maf) in 1978 to a low of 0.34 maf in 1977. There are
substantial water shortages throughout the basin in this model scenario as the Juniper rights call
out many existing juniors, including the existing reservoirs. More detailed results of this model
scenario can be found in Appendix B.
In the second scenario, with the Juniper Project water rights subordinated to all other
demands in the basin, the total annual draft of the Juniper rights averages 856,529 of per year.
On the average, about 91,000 of of the draft is due to diversions by the Deadman Bench Canal
and 324,343 of from hydroelectric power generation; the remaining 441,255 of of the draft
results from storage in Juniper Reservoir. The annual draft of the subordinated Juniper Project
ranges from a high of 1.29 maf in 1962 to a low of 0.32 maf in 1977. Shortages to basin
demands are much lower in this scenario than with the Juniper Project operated with an
unsubordinated 1954 priority and are not caused by a call of the Juniper rights. This finding is
consistent with Division 6 data indicating that current use by water rights junior to the Juniper
rights is substantially less than the 65,000 of allowed under the general subordination. More
detailed results of this model scenario can be found in Appendix C.
Studies to Define an Environmental Baseline at Maybell
In 1986, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service applied the HYDROSS modeling
methodology to the Yampa and Green River basins to assist in assessing the cumulative impacts
on streamflows of water developments for irrigation, power, municipal, and recreation. The
Service's HYDROSS application was aimed primarily at identifying the impacts associated with
the Stagecoach Reservoir Project near Steamboat Springs. From this modeling analysis, the
Service defined a "Section 7 Baseline" condition for the Stagecoach project and Interim Flow
Recommendations at Deerlodge Park. A detailed review of the HYDROSS application was
conducted as part of the predecessor study.
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