1004

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 1004
• Author: Boyle, J., K. Covay and D. Bauer.
• Title: Quantity and Quality of Streamflow in the White River Basin, Colorado and Utah.
• USFW Year: 1984.
• USFW - Doc Type: Lakewood, CO.
• Copyright Material: NO

1.0 INTRODUCTION--Continued
1.2 studg Area

AREA HAS EXTENSIVE ENERGY RESOURCES

The White River basin, located in northwestern Colorado and northeastern
Utah, contains extensive reserves of oil shale, coal, oil,
and natural gas.

Energy developments are taking place or are being planned in Colorado and
Utah. Particular attention is focused on the White River basin because of
extens i ve exi st i ng and planned energy- resource deve 1 opment that may affect
surface-water quantity and quality. The White River basin is located in
northwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah (fig. 1.2-1). The surface area of
the basin is 5,120 square miles, 74 percent of which is in Colorado and 26
percent in Utah. The White Ri ver fl ows to the east and drai ns into the Green
River in Utah. Most of the tributaries, such as the South Fork White River,
Piceance Creek, and Yellow Creek, drain from the south into the White River.

Existing energy production from the area consists primarily of oil and
natural gas, with some coal (fig. 1.2-2). Rio Blanco County, Colo., con-
taining the Rangely oil and natural gas fields, ranks first in Colorado for
production of these two resources. Two major coalfields of the area are the
Dansforth Hills coalfield near Meeker, Colo., and the lower White River coal-
field near Rangely, Colo. The coal from these areas primarily consists of a
highly volatile bituminous type.

The mos t extens i ve underdeve loped natura 1 resource in the bas in is the
extensive oil-shale deposits in .the Green River Formation of Tertiary age.
The Green River Formation is within the Piceance basin in Colorado, the Uinta
basin in Utah, and the Green River and Washakie basins in Wyoming. Oil
resources in these areas are about 2 trillion barrels (Donnell, 1965).

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