WSPC00578

• File Number: 8045
• Description: Section D General Studies-Federal Projects-General
• Date: 12/1/1979
• Title: Moon Lake Power Plant Project-Reports 1979-80-Position Statement on the Rangely Reservoir
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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either reservoir until the flow from Colorado into Utah is established.

The time required to construct the Rangely Reservoir has previously been

noted as a concern of the Moon Lake Power Project Sponsors. For the

proposed Range1y Reservoir to be completed, certain environmental and design

requirements must be satisfied. These requirements would, by law, involve

an extensive review of the aqua~ic life endemic ~o the Colorado River Basin.

It should be noted that this system has been the subject of a great deal of

intense interest by various federal agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service and as such will receive an extensive review by these concerned agencies.

The time required for the completion and review of the various studip~, and

approvals necessary for Rangely Reservoir make it highlv unlikely that the

reservoir could be constructed and placed in operation prior to the planned

start-up date of the proposed power plant.
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In summary, the amount of water which can be obtained from Range1y Reservoir

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depends on the level of future development of water projects in Colorado,

the prior conditional rights which would be developed and the location of

such development. The amount of water which can be obtained is also high~y

dependent on the amount of water released from Rangely Reservoir, which

largely determines the flow of water into Utah, particularly in years of low

stream flow. In addition, it is highly unlikely that Rangely Reservoir could

be constructed and placed in operation prior to the planned start-up date of

the proposed power plant.

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