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CHAPTER I GENERAL DISCUSSIONS The hydroelectric plans have proposed the capture of high elevation surplus flows in the headwaters area of the South Fork,by means of col- lection systems and reservoir storage. The water would be conveyed to the south for a series of power drops toward the Colorado River. These plans have been vigorously opposed by environmental groups, anft the crea- tion of the Flat Tops Wilderness Area in 1975 may have precluded any fur- ther pursuit of these plans. One of the proponents of this concept, Rocky Mountain Power Company, has recently sold an option for its water rights to the Rio Blanco Oil Shale Project, tract C-a lessees. The plans for oil shale water development have called for storage on the South Fork of the White River. The two storage sites receiving the most consideration are the Stillwater (also called Sweetbriar) site on private land just downstream from the White River National Forest bound- ary and the South Fork Canyon site just inside the forest. The water would either be conveyed to the use sites in the Piceance Creek Basin by gravity pipeline or released to the stream to be rediverted from the White River downstream and pumped to the use sites. In either case, ter- minal storage might be necessary in the Piceance Basin. Rangely Project "I,' The Colorado River Water Conservation District is preSently investi- gating the possibilities of a water development project in the Rangely area. Present conceptual plans include a reservoir of about 63,000 acre- feet on the White River several miles upstream from Rangely. The reser- voir would provide a regulated water supply of about 20,000 acre-feet a year for a coal-fired powerplant as well as additional amounts fot pos- sible municipal use in Rangely and for irrigation of about 1,000 acres of supplemental and full service land. A powerplant would probably be built by the Moon Lake Electric Association, Inc., with the power being used for oil-shale processing at Federal oil shale tract C-a. .{ by to Key water rights necessary for development of the Colorado River Water Conservation District. the district provide for the necessary reservoir this project are held Court decrees granted storage and water use. Yellow Creek Reservoir Consideration has been given to the private construction of a reser- voir on Yellow Creek about 4 miles upstream from the creek's confluence with the White River. The investigation was made to evaluate one of sev- eral means for obtaining an adequate industrial water 'supply for oil shale tract C-a. A uniform annual water supply of 60,000 acre-feet; provided by conveyance of water from the White River to Yellow Creek and regula- tion of its combined flow in Yellow Creek Reservoir, is considered. A storage capacity up to 400,000 acre-feet would be possible. Additional facilities needed would include a pumping plant on the White River, a pipeline to Yellow Creek Reservoir, and a smaller pipeline and pumping system to deliver water from the reservoir to tract C-a. 12