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V-6 these water rights and 1 cfs immediately downstream. Currently Engle- wood has an application pending for the transfer of these water rights to alternate points of diversion at or above Chatfield Reservoir. If this transfer is completed, it will have a significant impact upon low flows in the South Platte between Chatfield and the Petersburg Ditch. 5. Arapahoe Power Plant The Public Service Company of Colorado operates three power plants which depend upon water availability in the South Platte River between the confluences with Bear Creek and Cherry Creek for all or most of their cooling water requirements. The Arapahoe, Zuni and Cherokee Power Plants are discussed separately below in their downstream order. Infor- mation concerning the water requirements for each of the power plants was kindly provided by Mr. Tom McDonald of the Public Service Company. The point of diversion for the Arapahoe Power Plant is on the left bank of the South Platte about three miles downstream from the Petersburg Ditch and one mile north of the Hampden Avenue bridge. The Public Ser- vice Company has contracted with the Denver Water Department for the release of 5 cfs of water from Chatfield Reservoir or other sources to supply the cooling water requirements of the power plant. The current requirement is approximately 1 cfs. Historically, during full-capacity operation of the plant, diversion requirements have reached a maximum of 3.66 cfs. It is expected that utilization of the plant will be increased gradually to require this maximum rate of diversion again by about 1990. The Public Service Company estimates the rate of consump- tive use of cooling water at the Arapahoe Plant to be 78 percent. 6. Epperson Ditch The Epperson Ditch has the most senior water right on the South Platte between Chatfield drld the Brantner Ditch. 1981 Basin ft.'TIount ,1l,ppropriatioT1 Adjudication Ditch Rank (cfs) Date Date Epperson 9 2.25 05/01/1860 12/10/1883 This water right is used by the Denver Water Department for the irriga- Lion of Overland Golf Course. The point of diversion is on theieft bank of the South Platte just south of the Florida Avenue bridge. Water is pumped across the river through a pipeline suspended under the bridge and into a pond next to the golf course. 7. Zuni Power Plant Unlike the water supply for the Arapahoe Power Plant, which relies upon a contract with the Denver Water Department, the water supply for the Zuni Power Plant is based upon a separate water right in the South Platte River, decreed as the "Lacombe Power Plant" right: 1981 Basin Ditch Rank Amount (cfs) 300 Appropr i at ion Date 12/31/1900 Adjudicat ion Date 06/09/1924 Lacombe Power Plant 1,595 Also unlike the Arapahoe Plant, the cooling water system for the Zuni Plant is designed to take advantage of a high rate of flow through the plant with relatively low consumptive use. This is known as a flow- through cooling water system. The facility also has cooling towers which are closed-loop where only makeup water is diverted. Current rates of diversion estimated by the Public Service Company are an aver- age of approximately 90 cfs with normal peaks of 120 cfs and potential maximum requirements for the full decreed amount of 300 cfs. The Public Service Company estimates the rate of consumptive use for its diversions of cooling water for the Zuni plant to be approximately 0.7 percent. The effluent discharged to the South Platte River is subject to a maxi- mum temperature limitation of 900F under the NPDES Permit issued by the State Health Department. 8. Farmers and Gardeners Ditch (Cherokee Power Plant) The point of diversion is on the left bank of the South Platte River just upstream from the confluence with Cherry Creek. The two water rights are as follows: