WSP03789

• File Number: 8200.765
• Description: White River General
• State: CO
• Basin: Yampa/White
• Water Division: 6
• Date: 8/16/1982
• Author: Corps of Engineers
• Title: Taylor Draw Reservoir Project - Environmental Impact Statement - Final
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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1.0 THE PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSAL

1.1 INTRODUCTION

1,1.1 The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Public Law
91-190, 1970) requi res the preparat Ion of an Envi ronmental Impact
Statement (EIS) whenever a major Federal Action will have a
significant effect on the environment. The Department of the Army,
Corps of Engineers (COE) has prepared this document in response to an
application for a pennit filed In accordance with Section 404 of the
Clean Water Act (33 U,S,C. 1344) by the Water Users Association No.1
on July 10, 1980, Section 404 requires a pennit prior to placing
dredged or fill material In waters of the United States. The
applicant proposes to construct a reinforced earth fill dam utilizing
approximately 265,700 cubic yards (203,140m3) of material. The dam
would be located upstream from the confluence of Taylor Draw on the
White River approximately 5 miles (8 ~) east of the town of Rangely,
Rio Blanco County, Colorado, (Figure 1 - 1)

1.1.2 The Colorado River has been the subject of considerable
controversy In the past regarding apportionment of water between the
various states that It traverses. Numerous compacts and treaties have
been negotiated between the states to achieve this end. The Final EIS
for the Taylor Draw Reservo I r Proj ect I s not to be construed as
reflecting the present or future position of any state of the Upper or
Lower Colorado River Basin or of the Federal Government with regard to
I nterpretat Ion and app I i cat I on of the treat i es, compacts, and laws
that do or may affect the allocat ion of water among the states and
among private parties with water claims within each state. In
particular, nothing In this EIS Is Intended to Interpret the
provisions of the Colorado River Compact (45 Stat. 1057), the Upper
Colorado River Basin Compact (63 Stat, 31), the Water Treaty of 1944
with the United Mexican States (Treaty Series 994, 59 Stat. 1219), the
decree entered by the Supreme Court of the United States in Arizona v.
California (367 U.S. 340), the Boulder Canyon Project Adjustment Act
(54 Stat. 744j 43 U,S,C. 620), or the Colorado River Basin Project Act

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