WSP04694

• File Number: 8281.400
• Description: Colorado River Studies and Investigations -- Colorado River Depletion Projections
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 6/1/1965
• Author: C. Jex Engineers
• Title: Report on Water Runoff and Stream Depletion of the Main Stem Colorado River Basin in Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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During the san.e 18 year peric d, tlie undepleted
annual subbasin 1I.Jater supply averaged 455,500 acre feet.
Figures on water runoff, water use and the undepleted water
supply of the subbasin are given in the following table.
The quantity of water exported from the basin has renBined
a bout the san,e over the 18 year period.

Undepleted Eagle River Subbasin Runoff
Average for 18 Year feriod 1943-1960-Units Acre Feet

River Runoff at Dotsero
Inbasin Stream Depletion
Exported Hater
Net Undepleted Subbasin \rater Supply

Present \Iater Use

429,300
22,200
4.000
455,500

A study of the arable land of the subbasin conducted

by the i Bureau of Reclar: o.tion SllO'.IS a total of 15,271 acres of

lar;d irrigated in 1939. A study o.lso conducted by the Bureau

of Reclamaticn in 1951 S!lOViS that irrigation had expanded to

17,814 acres. A field reconnaissance study indicates that

the irrigated lo.nd npw totals 17,760 acres. This is an in-

crease ,of 2,~.89 acres fron; that irrigated in 1939 or an in-

crease 'of 16.3% in the 25 year period.
The land located in the main valley of the Eagle

River has an adequate vlater supply for full crop production.

Hater sLortages are lirdted to the land irrigated in the Brush

Creek Basin, the Gypsun. Creek Basin and some of the other

sn;aller tributary stream basins. It is estir:,ated that the

land of' shQrt ,water suppl:' would amount tc about 8,000 acres.
The an;ount of 1rlater diverted fron: the basin for use in

in the :ArLansas River Basin has rer;;ained about the saLe over

the study period. Ne\i facilities for expanded transr.:ountain

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