WSP02761

• File Number: 8141.600.20
• Description: Fryingpan-Arkansas Project - Studies - Environmental Studies
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 3/7/1983
• Author: US DoI BoR
• Title: Environmental Assessment Fryingpan-Arkansas Project Ruedi Reservoir Colorado Round 2 Water Sale
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

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0359

modified by House Document No. 353, 86th Congress; and the Fry-Ark Project

Operating Principles in House Document No. 130" 87th Congress.

legislation required compensatory storage on the western slope

I The body of
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,
*8 a prere-

quisite to the diversion of water from the Colorado River basiniby an eastern
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slope water conservancy district.

The Operating Pr inciples state; (Paragrapl1 3) "The receipts from the sale

of water from Ruedi Reservoir . . . shall be applied solely to the operation

and maintenance costs and to those reimburseable construction costs of said

rese,rvoir which exceed $7,600,000. The cost of perpetual operation and main-

tenance of the Ruedi Reservoir shall be borne by users of project water and

users of water stored in Ruedi Reservoir in sU9h proportion as may be deter-

mined by the Secretary of the Interior."

,
Paragraph 6(b) of the Operating Principles states;

"The regulatory capacity of Ruedi Reservoir. . . is that por-
tion of the total reservoir capacity not needed for replacement pur-
poses. Water stored in such category may be sold or leased by the
United States to water users in Colorado ~orany purpose recognized
by the laws of the United States: Provid~d that the sale of water
for use outside the natural basin of the Colorado River can only be
made with the consent of the Colorado Riv~r Water Conservation
District. Charges for the use of such wa~er shall be established by
the Secretary of the Interior by appropriate contract in accordance
with the payment ability of such water users."

And finally, Paragraph 7 of the Operating Principles presents the
following authority;

"The primary purpose of Rued! Reserv~ir . . . is to furnish,
to the extent of its capacity, in like ma~ner as if the project
were constructed by a water conservancy d~strict organized pursuant
to the laws of the State of Colorado, the water required for the
protection of western Colorado water users by the provisions of
Colorado Revised Statutes 1953, 149--6-13, . . ."

The reimbursable construction costs assoc~ated with the regulatory capa-

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city of Ruedi Reservoir are $9,222,000 plus ani accrued interest. As of

September 30, 1983, the total will be $10,398,OiOO less any payments received

as of that date. The payments will include those received from temporary

water sales and round one sales.

The references cited above present the reasons the Bureau will proceed

with water sales from Ruedi Reservoir. Howeveri' the Bureau considers the

public interest in such sales significant enoug~ to warrant environmental ana-
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