PROJ00533

• Contract/PO #: C153367
• Contractor Name: International Engineering Company
• Water District: 0
• County: Rio Blanco
• Bill Number: XB 99-999
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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the 480 cfs appropriation. Thirteen of these rights are associated with
expansion of irrigation systems. Table 11-4 lists the location, supply
source, owner, and amounts for the 14 major senior conditional direct flow
rights and two storage rights.

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The conditional water rights for irrigation are claimed for expansion of
cultivated land or for a storage right to capture excess runoff in unusually
wet years. Most of the senior conditional agricultural rights are decreed
to structures which already have one or more absolute rights. They are
therefore "enlargements" on the original right and conditional upon bringing
additional land under cultivation. An inspection of streamflpw and
diversion records shows that some of the senior conditional rights will be
filled only in very wet years and would not sustain irrigation on a
permanent basis. Some structures have not been diverting enough water to
irrigate the acreage claimed under their original absolute decrees, and some
conditional rights have failed to file a timely application for a
quadrennial finding of reasonable diligence. This failure may result in the
cancellation of the conditional water right.

The largest nonagricultural conditional water right, the Stillwater Project,
has a right to store 12,550 acre-feet and divert 370 cfs. Of the direct
diversion, 70 cfs are for industrial and other purposes and 300 cfs are for
hydropower production. Since the location of the project would be on the
South Fork, the 300 cfs power right would have no effect on the YJWCD
right. The remaining 70 cfs direct flow right is for 100 percent
consumptive use. This right is senior to the YJWCD right and would not be
available in the downstream reaches to help satisfy senior absolute water
right demands. After detailed examination of the senior conditional direct
flow and storage rights, it was concluded that only the Stillwater Project
rights would have an effect on the YJWCD rights. The State Engineer's
listing of all water rights in the White River Basin that are senior to the
YJWCD 1966 decree is included in Appendix Section C.

Junior Rights
The water rights in the White River Basin which are senior to the 1976 YJWCD

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