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(0 ~ , , ~ -. PREFACE c The Federal Power Act, as amended, authorized the Federal Power Commission to undertake investigations of the water resources of any region to be developed; to cooperate with the executive departments and other agencies of Federal and State governments in water resources planning; and to issue licenses to non-Federal interests for the construction, operation, and maintenance of dams, powerhouses, and appurtenances. for hydroelectric power development and other purposes. The Act reserves to the United States th~ right to take over a non-publiclY owned project upon expiration of the license after paying the licensee's net investment in the project, not to exceed fair value of property taken, plus severance damages, if any. Pro- jects to be licensed or relicensed must, in the judgment of the Commission, be best adapted to a comprehensive plan for improving waterways for the benefit of interstate commerce, for water power development, and for other beneficial public uses including recreation. On October 1, 1977, pursuant to the provisions of the Department of Energy Organization Act (DOE Act), Public Law 95-91, 91 Stat. 565 (August 4, 1977) and Executive Order No. 12009, 42 Fed. Reg. 46267 (September 15, 1977), the Federal Power Commission ceased to exist and its functions and regula- tory responsibilities were transferred to the Secretary of Energy and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) which, as an independent com- mission within the Department of Energy, was activated on October 1, 1977. On December 23, 1977, the Secretary issued an order amending DOE Delega- tion Order No. 0204-1 further delegating to the FERC the authority, under Section 4(a) of the Federal Power Act, to continue its activities as they relate to river basin appraisals. For the purposes of this report, all references to the "Commission" when used in the context of an action taken prior to October 1, 1977, refer to the Federal Power Commission; when used otherwise, the reference is to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. This report on the Yampa River basin, Colorado and Wyoming, has been prepared by the staff of the Commission as part of a program of Water Resources Appraisals for Hydroelectric Licensing. Gregory H. Bowers and Bernard Smith, of the Commission's San Francisco Regional Office, were primarily responsible for the conduct of studies and for the overall pre- paration of the report. This report is intended primarily to provide information which the Commis- sion and its staff may use or build upon, as appropriate, when considering matters related to hydroelectric project licensing. It has been prepared to correlate and, when possible, to supplement available information and thus, enable the staff and the Commission to act expeditiously on matters pertaining to the development of the hydroelectric power potential of the Yampa River basin within the limitations of other desirable water uses and environmental concerns. The report is a staff study which was not prepared for adoption or approval by the Commission and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission nor commit or prejudge later Commission action. i11