WSP04510

• File Number: 8220.128.J
• Description: Silt Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1951
• Author: USDOI - BOR
• Title: Silt Project-Colorado - A Supplement to the Colorado River Storage Project Report - Part 2 of 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

~
M
~

CHAPTER VI

OTHER PROJECT USES

Power

Development of hydroeleetric power in connection with the Silt
project would be impracticable. Except in years of heavy precipitation
releases from Rifle Gap Reservoir during the nonirrigation season would
be limited to about 5 seeond-feet for domestic and stock-watering purpOS8S
and would be insufficient for generation of electric energy with the
head available. Energy could be produced from irrigation releases during
the sUlllller months but the small production would not be justified by
the costs involved. Releases from low reservoir stages would be used
to pump to Davie ditch. The project would in no wa,y affect power produc-
tion at the Rifle Falls Power Plant of the Public Service Company located
on East Rifle Creek above the intake of the Grass Valley Canal.

Flood Control

I

Rifle Gap Reservoir would be of little value in controlling cloud-
burst floods which frequently cause damage to Rifle Valley immediately
above and in the vicinity of Rifle. The floods normally originate
in the watershed of Government Creek, tributary to Rifle Creek below
the Rifle Gap site, and usually occur in July and August when Rifle Creek
has passed the high water stage. The watershed above the dam site is
protected from cloudburst storme by the Grand Hogback which forms the
southwest boundary of the watershed.

\
I
1,;1
t

"
"

)

Municipal Water

t~ '

Two communities in the vicinity of the projioct, Rifle and Silt,
have improved municipal water systems. Neither system obtains its water
from the source of project water supply. Silt pumps all of its water
from the Colorado River. Rifl e obtains most of its water by gravity
flow from Beaver Creek, a small tributary to the Colorado River entering
from the south near Rifle, and by pumping supplemental water from the
Colorado River. A study was made to determine potential water require-
ments of these municipalities, principally Rifle, and the feasibility
of providing a supply from the Silt project. It was found that both
Rifle and Silt have adequate facilities to meet present and anticipated
normal demands, No provision has been made, therefore, to provide munici-
pal water in the present project plan.

~
~ :
"
"

"'~

.'

44