1005

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 1005
• Author: WBLA.
• Title: Curecanti Minimum Stream Flow Water Rights Study-Draft.
• USFW Year: 1986.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

uses: year-round municipal and industrial - 10~, storage during runoff -

45~, direct flow irrigation - 45~.

The subordination between Blue Mesa and Crystal was represerlted by

depleting virgin inflows to this reach by 20,000 acre feet per year under

a priority serJior to the Curecanti decrees but jurJior to the irrigation

water right for the Gunnison Tunnel. The monthly demand pattern for these

deplet iorls was assumed to be 10,000 acre feet/month from Apri I to July,

with an annual maximum of 20,000 acre feet. This pattern simulates one or

more reservoirs which are drawn down by 20,000 acre feet throughout the

year or during critical Months, and which fill during the run-off months.

In ASP, the subordination of the Curecanti decrees to 60,000 acre

feet of junior depletion apparently was accomplished by reducing the

inflows above Blue Mesa by roughly 60,000 acre feet each year. This

method effectively makes those diversions senior to all rights in the

basin including the Gunnison Tunnel and does not provide for any

development on the tributaries between Blue Mesa and Crystal. In this

study, the depletions under the subordination were operated in priority

groups and only the Curecanti decrees were subordinated.

D. Senior Aggregated Water Rights

The modelled depletions occuring under water rights senior to the

principal water rights were also derived by applying the distribution of

WBLA, Inc. 1909 Broadway, #3, Boulder, Colorado 80302

13