Laserfiche WebLink
<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />O~27D1 <br /> <br />Senior water rights below the reservoir site which could <br />most affect the project are those on the main stem of the river. <br />However, there are few filings on the main stem between the reser- <br />voir and the state line. Water filings made on the White River in <br />Utah have not been obtained. Flow conditions that far downstream <br />will be impaired only slightly by the Taylor Draw Reservoir (1). <br /> <br />In the Rangely area, many of the present irrigation rights <br />may be taken out of use, if and when waters become available from <br />Taylor Draw Reservoir. The disposition of present rights will then <br />become largely a matter of preference of the owners. It would be <br />to the Colorado River Water Conservation District's advantage to <br />obtain as many of these rights as possible to provide for increased <br />future project demands. Water rights for lands which will be in- <br />undated by the reservoir should be purchased during purchase of <br />rights-of-way for the reservoir. Not all of the ditches or diver- <br />sions are in use (1). <br /> <br />Every reasonable effort should be made to preserve the water <br />rights existing in the reservoir basin, either by the owners or by the <br />District, as their potential value is very high. These rights could <br />be incorporated into the Rangely Project by transferring the points of <br />diversion to new headgate locations and could be kept active by being <br />used to supply part of the irrigation water requirement. This would <br />make a larger portion of the total project yield available for industri- <br />al needs, resulting in greatly increased values. Existing rights in <br />the reservoir basin serving lands which will be inundated have a total <br />of about 25 cfs of direct flow (1). <br /> <br />II-21 <br />