WSP03696

• File Number: 8281
• Description: Williams and Eagle River
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 10/15/1947
• Title: Reconnaissance Study of Williams River and Eagle River Basins
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

002'248

.oj,:,,-

19. The operRtion studies 'referred to by Mr. Knights were based on
monthly records of streamflow and irrigation demand. . Examination of daily
streamflows and irrigation requirements at the. head of the Grand.Valley
Project will increase the indicated irrigation shortages. Mr. Knights
explained that under the plan of operation for the Blue-South Platte
Project, the Green Mountain Power Plant will not be operated for materfal
power production.. No releases will be made from the reservoir except as
needed to meet downstream requirements for irrigation or replacement pur-
poses,

20, Mr. Merriell stated that the natural late season flow of the Blue
- River is needed to meet .irrigation requirements in the Grand Valley.

21, judge Stone stated that the proposed operation plan for the Green
Mountain Reservoir, described by Mr, Knights, will require. appropriate
agreements with the Colorado-Big Thompson Project.

22. Mr. Patterson stated that he had made a q~ck study of Green.Moun-
tain reservoir operations with the reduced inflow that would be available
following construction' of the Blue-South Platte Project and with the aug-
mented demands in Western Colorado by development of all the potentially
irrigable lands. The quick study made by him indicates that the Green Moun-
tain reservoir will not refill every year, even if no water were released in
the non-irrigation season for power production purposes,

23. It is the understanding of the Steering Committee that review of
the capacity of .the Ruedi reservoir will be made as . expeditiously as possible.
It is understood that such review of the adequacy of Ruedi reservoir will not
preclude either Region from studying alternate sources of replacement water.
It is understood that Region IV is interested', primarily, in the possible use
of'the Bridgeport Unit (Whitewater Flats) of the Gunnison Project for replace-
ment purposes, Region VII is interested, primarily, in alternate reservoir
sites above the Grand Valley which will provide more efficient operation of
the reservoirs for replacement purposes.

Water Divertible by Gunnison-Arkansas Proiect from Colorado River Basin

24. The question discussed in paragraph 39 of minutes of August meetings
was brought up for additional discussion. No new studies of this subject
had been made since the last meeting, In view of other commitments for use
elsewhere of investigation personnel and funds, and the time limitation for
preparation of a status report, it was agreed by the Steering Committee that
status report for the Gunnison-Arkansas Project would be prepared on the basis
of western slope water requirements from Anthracite, Maroon, and Castle Creeks
heretofore estimated by Region VII, with appropriate qualifications to show
the need for future studies of these requirements.

25. The question of water requirements.in the Gunnison River basin below
Almont, Colorado, was brought up for further discussion. The data to be
supplied by Region IV on land acreages and uses of water, as discussed .in
paragraph 43 of minutes of August 1947 meeting, were not available at the time
of the October meeting. Region IV plans to supply the data on or before
January I, 1948.

5

,.; -,'.'-

..,....

,:"

. .
- ,.....

"".-",.'
. . ~'.- ".

.' ,
.....:1
I

'..1
!

..;. ."

.");.,::"::A;
.... .",.
....:-

. ...:.....,.

. ....,
.; .,' ~

.;,,::~

. ".. :.~

.; .':';~

:.->~;.-r

':'>".f>~ :
....

~: ::.~f:'

.... ".--": ;

:" ::,:...<~

..-..,.;....,
. :::;"".:';,:;';
..-......"
\\{:~~
~):..t~.:

.".... i
..'..,.... :
,',''''

.....

. .'~

";.'1