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3. Colorado River Basin <br />a) Colorado River Mainstem <br />There has been a range of modest water supply development activities, including reservoir <br />development, ongoing in the Colorado River mainstem basin. The water rights and <br />augmentation aspects of in -basin water supply needs for Summit and Grand Counties have been <br />largely addressed by the Summit County and the Clinton Gulch Reservoir Agreements and the <br />Green Mountain Reservoir Operating Policy and contracting agreements. Remaining problems <br />in the basin are primarily related to physical flow shortages during critical fall and winter season <br />low flow periods. The Upper Colorado River Basin study has identified remaining needs in the <br />two counties related to in -basin water supply, instream flow deficits and desired recreational <br />reservoir levels along with conceptual solutions for each of these issues. <br />In Summit County, physical shortages in the Snake River basin can be addressed by pumping <br />water from the Montezuma drop shaft of the Roberts Tunnel. Physical shortages in the Blue <br />River basin can be addressed through water rights administration agreements between Denver <br />Water and Colorado Springs. Physical shortages in the Ten Mile Creek basin can be addressed <br />through additional acquisition and redevelopment of water rights and facilities related to the <br />Climax Mine. <br />In Grand County, physical shortages can be addressed by Grand County participation in <br />Denver's North End project, which would allow Denver to increase water deliveries from its <br />Moffat Tunnel collection system to the Fraser River basin without loss of yield to its system. <br />The Town of Kremmling is addressing its water supply problems by developing its conditional <br />water rights for diverting water directly from the Colorado River. Related to the CBT system, <br />Windy Gap participants are investigating reservoir options for firming the yield of the Windy <br />Gap project. One of the options being considered is a proposed off - stream Jasper North <br />Reservoir, which would be located north of Willow Creek between Willow Creek Reservoir and <br />Granby Reservoir. <br />In -basin water users in Eagle County are actively planning to address their future water supply <br />and instream flow needs through a combination of small scale upper system reservoir <br />development, consolidation of water supply systems and purchase of augmentation supplies from <br />Green Mountain Reservoir. Any remaining in -basin supply needs are likely to be addressed <br />through development of a cooperative project with the City of Aurora and the Climax Mine, <br />which has been the principal focus of the Eagle River Assembly (an ad hoc group of water <br />interests from the Eagle River Valley and the cities of Aurora and Colorado Springs). <br />Other water development activities in the Colorado River mainstem basin have been primarily <br />focused on augmenting the flow of the Colorado River through the 15 -mile reach of critical <br />habitat for endangered fish species near Grand Junction. <br />39 <br />