WSP03558

• File Number: 8149.700
• Description: Miscellaneous Small Projects and Project Studies Homestake Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 2/1/1955
• Author: John P Elliott
• Title: Homestake Creek Transmountain Diversion Project of John P Elliott Consulting Engineer
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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For the combined areas, the estimated average annual water
production above the collection system for different water

supply periods may be~umrnarized as follows:

Runoff AbOve
Collection System
Areas l' and 2
Combined
(May - July)

Water Supply
Period

1911-1953
1934-1953
1931-1940

82,000 Acre-feet

74 000 "
,

"

66 000 "
,

"

The portion of the runoff originating above a collection
system which may actually be divertible by the system depends
on the design of the canals and tunnels comprising the system,
the difficulties which may be encountered in opening the
ditches each year, and their maintenance throughout the diversion
season. It is not economically practicable to construct canals

with capacities large enough to intercept all of the runoff

. during the few days of peak flow in years which are above the

average in water production. It is also not always practicable

to complete the opening of canals in time to capture all of the

May runoff in some years, and there are transportation losses in

ditches due to seepage and occasional breaks in the banks. It

is my opinion that a project intercepting the areas as shown on

the filing maps, with sufficient regulatory capacity provided,

could reasonably be expected to deliver an average of 60,000 to

65,000 acre-feet annually to the Arkansas basin. There would be

some reduction in the yield at the point where the water might be

used because of transportation charges in natural stream channels,

depending on the distance between the tunnel portal on Lake Fork

and the site of diversion for actual use.