WSP00340

• File Number: 8141
• Description: Fryingpan-Arkansas Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 8/1/1989
• Author: US DoI BoR
• Title: Final Supplement to the Environmental Statement - Ruedi Reservoir Colorado Round II Water Marketing Program - pg ii - 10.4
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

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supply of up to 51,500 AF (including both Round I and Round II sales) under a
dry-year condit ion, depending on the demand pattern, refl ecti ng Round II
shortages of up to 15 and 30 percent, respectively, for industrial and
municipal/domestic uses.
Many of the proposed municipal requests for Ruedi water in the DSES "83-69
were based on anticipated population increases as Colorado's oil shale industry
expanded. Because the world oil market has changed, it appears that the
requesting entities of 1983 may reduce their projected demand for water.
However, as a basis for projecting future water demand it is reasonable to assume
that by the year 2000 or 2010 the demand for oil shale, and the consequent demand
for water, will increase. In addition, regardless of the condition of the oil
shale industry, population increases along the western slope are likely. It is
anticipated that the requests for water will reflect approximately an 80:20 ratio
between industrial and municipal/domestic, respectively, which was utilized in
the analyses in the DSES 83-69. Since industrial uses return a much smaller
percentage of the diverted flow to the stream this analysis which considers a
higher industrial to municipal use ratio, is more conservative. Assessment of
possible environmental, aesthetic, and recreational impacts will therefore
consider very conservative conditions.
Examination of the period of study, 1948 to 1983, indicated a wide range of
hydrologic conditions. Three years were selected for study herein to be
representative of this range: 1957 for wet year conditions, 1977 for dry year
cond+tions, and 1975 for average conditions.
The minimum reservoir content in an average year, such as 1975, during the
summer recreation period (June-August) would be about 96,200 AF. During a dry
year (1977), reservoir content could drop as low as 52,900 AF. The summer
reservoir content exceeds the volume of 52,000 AF necessary for use of the Forest
Service boat ramp in all years, but during a dry year falls below the 85,000 AF
storage level required for the boat ramps at Oearhamer Campground and the Aspen
Yacht Club. Releases to the Fryingpan River, including Rocky Fork Creek, in the
winter months would range from 116 to 133 cfs in an average year and from 31 to
101 cfs in a typical dry year. These flows meet or exceed the minimum release
requirements of the Operating Principles for the protection of recreational
values, including fishing on the Fryingpan River below Ruedi Reservoir.
The actual demand for water from Ruedi Reservoir is stimulated by shortages
on the Colorado River. The frequency of water demand from Ruedi increases in