WSP01146

• File Number: 8281.400
• Description: Colorado River Studies and Investigations -- Colorado River Depletion Projections
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1959
• Title: Depletions in Flow of Colorado River at Lee Ferry Due to Man's Activity in Colorado River Basin in Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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This runoff is estimated to be 105% of that prevailing before
man's activities in the Basin which amounts to an increase
of 393.000 acre feet annually.

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New Mexico

National Forest Area - 90 sq. miles
Average Elevation - 7,100 feet
Total runoff - 10, 000 acre feet

This runoff is estimated to be 105'1Q of that prevailing bE)fore
man's activities in the Basin. which amounts to an w.crease
of 500 acre feet annually.

Wyoming

National Forest Area - 2,104 square miles
Average Elevation - 9,190 feet
Total runoff - 647,000 acre feet

This runoff is estimMed to be 105% of that pre'VCl-Uing before
man's activities in the Basin. wh.i.chamounts to anfncrease
of 31, 000 acre feet annually.

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Utah

National Forest Area - 5, !:i95 square mUes
Average Elevation - 9,105 feet
Total runoff - 1. 744, 000 acre feet

This runoff is estimated to be 105% of that prevailing before
man's activities in the Basin, which amounts to an iAcr.eCl-SEl._
of 83,000 acre feet annually.

ESTIMATES o.F INCREASED RUNo.FF IN THE UPPER BASIN
DUE TO. DE::FOREST~TION

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.~ostatil:ltics se.em to be availa.ble as to the areas of privarte timber land~
that h~vebeen deforested by man in the Colorado River Basin... StCl-tfstics,
however, have been kept of the board-feet produced by the various. states,
and the average board-feet per acre. From these figtires, it would appear
that there are between one and two million acres of land iti the C~lorado
River from which the timber has been entirely cut off. I~ha;sbee1) esti-
mated that the runoff from these areas has been increase.i:J,:l~!,/Q'41l:e to the
timber cutting as indicated by the Wagon Wheel Gap expe~i:!nE!nt!t;

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The following table shows the estimated acreages of cl):i;':'over illiiber

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