7236

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7236
• Author: McAda, C. W.
• Title: Catalog of Water Development in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1978.
• USFW - Doc Type: Salt Lake City, Utah.
• Copyright Material: NO

•
PREFACE
This report is a catalog of water development projects in the Upper
Colorado River Basin. It is only a partial listing and concentrates
primarily on the larger projects which have progressed to a planning
stage. It is our intention that this catalog be updated on a regular
basis (annual or biannual). The report is meant to provide an overview
of water development. Information on specific projects in this report
can be used as a starting point and if more information is needed the
name of a knowledgeable individual to contact has been listed for
reference. '~
Projects were given~a number which is located in the upper right
hand corner of the summary sheets. These numbers were also placed on the
maps where the project is located. States included in the Upper Colorado
River Basin (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) were divided
into sections along longitude and latitude lines to facilitate inclusion in
this report. The section's were coded as to State (i.e., A for Arizona,
C for Colorado, etc.) an~ numbered. The section(s) where a project is lo-
cated is given under 'location' on the summary sheets.
• The water of the Colorado River Basin is a valuable resource and is
in great demand. Consequently, many individuals and organizations are com-
peting for that water. Applications have been filed for many times more
water than exists in the 'upper basin. Many of these applications are
speculative, but there i~ no way to determine the probability of develop-
ment of most of these prq~ects at this time. The likelihood of development
of a specific water right could easily change, depending upon priorities
set by the various governmental agencies (i.e., energy, agriculture, in-
dustry, municipalities).
The status of projects that are being actively pursued has been noted
on the sheets. Projects that have filed for water rights but are not yet
beyond the initial stage are listed simply as applications for water
rights. As more information is obtained or development proceeds, the status
will be changed. Reserv it sites have been listed even though some sites
are not now being active~y pursued. Many of these sites are still author-
ized and thus capable of being developed. However, the possibility of
development in some inst~nces is remote.
Some areas (i.e., th6e Yampa, White, and Colorado rivers in Colorado)
were covered more thoroughly than others because the data on water rights
and development possibil ties were more readily available. The majority
of water right filings fqr this area have been noted on the maps. Many
of these projects will n ver be developed because of lack of water. Others
are proposed for Wildern ss Areas, where development is unlikely. Cameron
Engineers (a Consulting irm in Denver, Colorado) compiled a great deal of
information concerning w ter rights in Water Division 5 of Colorado. They
are referenced if inform tion was obtained from their material.