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. CHAPTER I GENERAL DISCUSSIONS and the west slopes of' the Sawatch Range along the Continental Divide. The major tributaries include Castle, Maroon, and Snowmass Creeks and the Crystal River f'rom the south and the Fryingpan River and Woody and Cattle Creeks f'rom the east and north. Coulter Creek is a tributary of' Cattle Creek and tributaries of' Coulter Creek include East and West Coul- ter Creeks and Mesa Creek. Streamflows peak in the late spring and then gradually diminish. Natural f'lows are fully appropriated except f'or some winter and spring f'lows. Streams of' the high watersheds, which would provide the water supply f'or project development, yield clear water of' excellent quality. The quality of' the Roaring Fork, however, is endangered by intensive building undertaken along the streams and drainageways in recent years without proper sewage treatment f'acilities. Existing Reclamation Facilities . Two existing reservoirs are important in development plans f'or a po- tential Basalt Project. By f'ar the most important is the Ruedi Reservoir constructed and operated by the Bureau of' Reclamation. The other is the Missouri Heights (Spring Park) Reservoir owned and operated by a private cooperative. Ruedi Reservoir Ruedi Reservior, a f'eature of' the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, is lo- cated within the White River National Forest on the Fryingpan River approx- imately 14 miles east of' Basalt. It was authorized f'or construction by the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project Act of' August 16, 1962 (Public Law 87-590), and as provided by that act it is operated in accordance with operating principles adopted by the State of' Colorado on December 9, 1960, and re- produced in House Document No. 130, 87th Congress, as amended. The res- ervoir was authorized to provide replacement storage f'or water diverted to the eastern slope of' Colorado by the Fryingpan-Arkansa.s Project and f'or future developments in western Colorado. The authorizing act provided that, with tte consent of' the Colorado River Water Conservation District, water f'rom the reservoir could be exported f'rom the natural river basin of' the Colorado River. Construction of' the reservoir was begun in 1965 with the f'irst water storage in May 1968. At present the reservoir is used primarily f'or replacement storage, recreation, f'lood control, and f'ish and wildlif'e. Construction costs of' Ruedi Reservoir amounted to $24,752,000 and annual operating costs average about $30,000. Provisions f'or repayment of' the costs as part of' the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project are included in a repayment contract of' January 21, 1965, between the United States Government and Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District. . 7