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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />4.0 WATER UTILIZATION <br /> <br />Reservoir simulations were conducted for evaluating the firm yield and the <br />maximum yield for each project. ThE! firm yield is the maximum quantity of <br />water which can be guaranteed during a critical dry period. The firm yield is <br />equivalent to the safe yield during a drought. In this analysis; the critical <br />drought occurred from 1953 through 1956. The maximum yi e1 d ana1ysi s assumed <br />the reservoi r wou1 d capture as much storab1 e water as possi b1 e in the spri ng <br />and release its entire contents during the summer. This type of operation <br />allows maximization of the yield for each water right and full implementation <br />of the water exchange p1 an wi th thE! North Poudre Irri gati on Company; Each <br />operating method has advantages. <br /> <br />Operating the reservoir on a firm or safe yield basis, if it is not used for <br />exchange purposes, gives the City of Greeley a dependable water supply during <br />a drought. It also provides a year-~ound supply. One of the City's problems <br />duri ng the wi nter is caused by the annual shutdown of Co1 orado-Bi g Thompson <br />Project conveyance faci 1 i ties, from November through March. Thi s effecti ve1y <br />eliminates use of CBT or Windy Gap water in the winter. An exception to this <br />operating policy is a possible water exchange plan developed between the Water <br />Supply and Storage Company and the City, which exchanges Windy Gap or CBT <br />water for storage water in Chamb~rs lake. By refilling Barnes Meadow <br />Reservoir in the fall with water held in Chambers lake, the City would obtain <br />a reliable winter water supply. Currently, the City relies heavily upon their <br />direct flow rights from the Cache 1a Poudre River during the winter. <br />Reservoir releases are needed to ilUgment the natural river flows in the <br />winter, when Greeley's demands exceed the flows or the water available under <br />these decrees. A si de benefi t from fi rm yie1 d operati ons is that carry-over <br />storage would enhance the reservoir fishery. A minimum pool would be <br />available at all times, except during times of extreme drought. <br /> <br />Year-to-year operations, which maximize project yield, rely on capturing <br />storable water in the reservoir in the spring, and releasing water for the <br />North Poudre Irri gati on Company in the summer, in exchange for CBT water: <br />This allows the flexibility of delivering raw water to either the Bellvue or <br /> <br />-29- <br />