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<br />Yellow Jacket Project <br /> <br />S.B. 439 calls for the study of "a project di'Jerting or <br />storing water from the White River above the confluence of <br />piceance Creek." The objective of this study is to evaluate, at <br />a reconnaissance level of detail, the engineering feasibility and <br />cost of such alternative storage, diversion, and major pumping <br />and delivery facilities and combinations thereof as would' develop <br />those water rights of the Yellow Jacket Water Conservancy <br />District which are for use in the White River Basin. The primary <br />purposes of this project would be to develop water for industrial <br />use, with some water for irrigation and municipal uses. <br /> <br />This study is being conducted in two phases. During the <br />first phase, eight J:Xltential projects were analyzed to a very <br />preliminary level of detail. These eight alternatives included <br />both single reservoir and mUltiple reservoir projects. The <br />results of these very preliminary analyses were presented in an <br />interim report published in June. <br /> <br />The ewCB reviewed the preliminary analyses at its June <br />meeting and selected two of the alternatives for further <br />study. These two are on Big Beaver Creek and include the <br />enlargement of Lake Avery and a new dam called Sawmill Mountain <br />just a few miles above Lake Avery. A third alternative, Warner <br />Point D~~ and Reservoir on the mains tern just below the confluence <br />of the North and South Forks of the wl1i te River, was added later <br />after a further analysis of the hydropower potential at that site <br />(35 MI'/) showed encouraging results. All three of these potential <br />reservoirs would have conservation storage capacities of 55,000 <br />acre-feet, although their total capacities would vary from 59,000 <br />to 75,000 acre-fe~t. <br /> <br />The majority of the work completed to date has centered <br />around water yield and availability analyses; identification of <br />water needs and locations; investigations of the selected storage <br />sites, delivery systems and facilities; and formulation of <br />project configurations. In addition, seismic refraction testing <br />on the left abutment of Lake Avery Dam has been conducted. Since <br />the Lake, Avery enlargement is a very attractive alternative, it <br />was felt that IllJre inrormation should be obtained on the left <br />abutment for design and costing purposes due to possible geologic <br />problems with that abutment. Preliminary results indicate poor <br />foundation conditions in this area, but a layer of silt~ clay was <br />found covering the entire area. This layer could possibly be <br />upgraded to form an impervious blanket, thus obviating the need <br />for deep foundation excavation. <br /> <br />-4- <br />