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UlJ160,j ., ". ~t:tt 1,) J;-?~) :~j:>_~o-:- ~ ilj~~~:~ ~C{.:-4'::< ~b(~-~J~ ,. -. . United States Department of t~terior GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Denver Federal Center Denver, Colorado 80225 IN REPLY REFER TO: Water Resources Division Colorado District July 30, 1975 INFORMATION FOR THE PRESS RECEIVED AUG 05 1975 COLO. WATtff CONSERVATION BOARD SUBJECT: Yampa River basin target for study RELEASE DATE: Immediately FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: J. E. Biesecker, District Chief. Water Resources Division U.S. Geological Survey Building 25, Denver Federal Center Lakewood, _Colorado B0225 Telephone: 234-3815 , ~ I . ~. ~ ~. i I ~. .l ~j. ~ ;;; :"".i " ".:': J~ ~ [~: ~~ :.! An investigation of the potential environmental effects of developing energy resources in the Yampa River basin in northwestern Colorado and south-central ~lyoming is no," underway and could aid studies in other energy-rich areas in the West, according to the USGS CU.S. Geological Survey). Designed primarily to assess the availability and quality of the basin's water resources, the 2y,-year USGS study will also evaluate potential enviro~~ental and selected social and economic impacts of various energy-resource development plans proposed by mining and power companies. Most of the basin's mineral rights are federally controlled, and principal impending development involves extraction of strippable coal reserves in the basin, estimated by the U.S. Bureau of Mines to exceed 950 million tUUSa ~""'~ ?~c '~ According to Dr. Steele, "The availability of ,mter may be a limiting factor to future development of the Yampa River basin's energy resources. The pos- sible constraints on water availability and current use-as a consequence of e;{isting water la'i.vs wi.ll be. considered. The study area covers most of Moffat and Routt Counties, parts of Rio Blanco, Garfield, and Grand Counties in Colorado, and parts of Sweetwater and Carbon Counties in Wyoming, including the towns of Steamboat Springs, Craig, and Hayden, Colorado. The project will complement several other ongoing studies in the Yampa River region funded through State and federal agencies; close coordination of the USGS study ,,,ith these related studies will be maintained. The assessment study "ill be headed by Dr. Timothy D. Steele under the super- vision of J. E. Biesecker, Chief of the Colorado District, \.Jater Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado. c:~ J .':"~ .;~)' .;,:~ ~ .' .,.. -...