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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Sawmill Mountain Reservoir rights but junior to the 1966 YJWCD water rights
were also evaluated. The intervening conditional storage rights amount to
1,750,000 acre-feet and the intervening conditional direct flow rights
approach 6500 cfs. Many of these storage rights are partially overlapping
at adjacent sites, are within wilderness areas which may prohibit the
construction of reservoirs or other structures, are subject to abandonment
for lack of diligence, or are too junior to develop a firm and economical
water supply when the basin becomes more developed. A listing of the major
storage rights senior to YJWCD's 1976 right is shown in Table 11-5.

A second major project in the South Fork headwaters is important when
considering the priority and yield of YJWCD rights. The Sweetwater
Hydroelectric Project, originally proposed by Rocky Mountain Power Company
(ROMPOCO) and consisting of several reservoirs, gravity diversions, and
power plants, would have used water from the White River drainage to
generate power across the divide in the Colorado River Basin. Water
developed by the project would have been a total depletion to the White
River. This project was opposed by the YJWCD which was sponsoring another
project at the same adjudication proceeding. A stipulation between ROMPOCO
and the YJWCD was adopted which allowed YJWCD to obtain decrees for the
Yellow Jacket Project which were senior to all claims for the Sweetwater
Project. Rocky Mountain Power Company later sold its interest in the
Sweetwater conditional rights to an ener9Y concern that transferred these
rights to a site on the White River near Yellow Creek. The transfer of the
junior Sweetwater rights should not have a negative impact on YJWCD's plans.

Other junior rights in the White River Basin which
the upstream flows appropriated by the CWCB.
specific tributary and mainstem reaches in order
environment to a reasonable degree."

should be considered are
These water rights cover
to "preserve the natural

The two stream reaches which are affected
appropriations are the North Fork from Marvine Creek
the South Fork, and the mainstem of the White River
the North and South Forks to Piceance Creek. The

by the i nstream flow
to the confluence with
from the confluence of
flow spec if i ed for the

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