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. CHAPTER II COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Water quality Chemical analyses of water samples from Yampa River near Maybell show that the water as it would be regulated at Juniper Reservoir should be of excellent quality for irrigation and possible municipal and industrial uses. The analyses show concentrations of about 500 parts per million in total dissolved solids during low flow periods in the late summer and concentra- tions of about 100 parts per million during high flow periods in the spring. The annual mean of dissolved solids is less than 200 parts per million. The water quality at Juniper Reservoir site would be expected to deterio- rate somewhat with additional upstream development but it appears that the water would remain of excellent quality, Chemical analyses of samples of White River flows indicate that the quality of the water that would be available for direct flow diversion to the Savannah Butte Canal under present conditions of upstream development would be suitable for irrigation use. Possible future developments. how- ever, would likely have a significant effect on the quality of remaining White River water available to the canal. A study of the potential upstream developments and their probable effects would be deltirable in any further study of the potentiaJ. Savannah Butte Canal development. . Return flows from Deadman Bench planned for use under the Wonsits Canal may be too concentrated in dissolved solids to be satisfactory for irrigation. Concentrations of solids would result from the leaching of salts from the soils together with the salt-concentrating effects result- ing from consumptive use of a large part of the irrigation water applied to the lands. Detailed study of the soil characteristics on Deadman Bench will be required to determine the suitability of the expected return flows for irrigation use, Water rights Water of the Colorado River Basin has been apportioned for use between the upper and lower basins under terms of the Colorado River Com- pact. The water apportioned to the upper basin by this compact has in turn been further apportioned for use in the States of the upper basin by the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact of 1948, Flows of Yampa River have been further apportioned by the upper basin compact between the States of Colorado and Utah. The preliminary plans for the Juniper project have been made subject to the provisions of these compacts. Water right filings for the Juniper project were made in the State of Colorado by the Colorado River Water Conservation District in Septem- ber 1959. Filings were made for 844,294 acre-feet of storage in Juniper Reservoir, including 73,226 acre-feet of dead storage, and for 550 second- feet of direct flow of the Yampa River for diversion through the Deadman . 32