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t'- t' t'- - ENERGY. Through its power production and water conser- vation features, Juniper-Cross Mountain will aid in achieving the two primary objectives of the national energy program as set forth by the President, Congress and various administrative agencies. First, the project and its 350 million kilowatt hours of production annually will result in the conservation of non- renewable fossil fuels. The 350 million kilowatt hours is equi- valent to to 600,000 barrels of oil. Second, if the United States is to achieve energy self-sufficiency, Northwest Colorado and its rich energy resources will provide much of the fuel. The U. S. Geological Survey estimates coal deposits in the three counties of Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt at 32.9 billion tons, the equi- valent to more than 71 trillion kilowatt hours or more than 109 billion barrels of oil. juniper-Cross is 30 miles north of the Piceance Basin oil shale deposit, the richest such deposit in the world. The project is bracketed on two other sides by similar deposits in Wyoming and Utah. Together the three deposit, contain more than four trillion barrels of shale oil. Moffat, Routt, and Rio Blanco counties already account for more than half of Colorado's energy production in terms of crude oil, natural gas and coal. A critical factor in further energy develop- ment will be water: The Department of Interior estimated total water needs for energy development in Colorado at 325,000 acre-feet. In comparison, one acre-foot is considered sufficient to meet the total annual water requirements of a family of four. Western Colorado towns like Craig and Carbondale have already doubled and tripled their populations since 1970. If it is not to come from existing users, this water can only come from new water reservoirs, such as Juniper-Cross Mountain. TOURISM. As a tourism attraction, Juniper-Cross Mountain will strengthen the diversification of Northwest Colorado's energy- agriculture-tourism economy. Engineering, cultural and" recrea- tional features of the project are expected to result ultimately in 500,000 people days of activity. Estimates for daily expenditures are $15 per fisherman and $45 per tourism family, which is spent primarily on lodging, eating, gasoline and general retail sales. State and regional cities and approximate driving distances from Juniper-Cross are: Meeker, 35 miles; Rangely and Baggs, 58; Steamboat Springs, 61; Rifle, 76; Vernal, 89; Glenwood Springs 103: Grand junction, 144; Delta, 183 and Denver, 228. ECONOMIC BENEFITS. The most immediate economic benefit of juniper-Cross Mountain is its construction. January, 1980 estimates set total project cost at $185 million. A 1977 study on expenditures for similar projects stated that two-thirds of the total cost is normally spent locally for m;iterials and labor. Due to the completion of other major construction projects in the Craig area at the same time construction. is expected to begin on Juniper-Cross, as scheduled, the project would simply elim- inate a dip in both population and jobs. The dip is projected for the mid-1980's. Total annual economic benefits to the regional economy in agriculture' and tourism as a result of juniper-Cross cannot now be pinpointed because of the many variables involved. However, that figure is eventually expected to exceed $30 million annually. Due to the spin-off effect to Western Colorado service and supply centers and natural travel patterns, economic benefits are expected to center in Craig, Meeker and Steamboat Springs and extend to Rangely, Rifle, Glenwood Springs, Grand junction, Delta and Hot Sulphur Springs. PRO J ECT LANDS/TENTATIVE TIMET ABLE. Of the 27,354 acres required for the project including damsJ reservoirs, transmis. sion lines and power plants, about half is privately owned. The River District has the power of eminent domain both under state statute and under the Federal Power Act which grants such power to licensees. Clearly, such power requires just compensation to property owners for the acquisition, use or damage of property necessary to the project. In the event negollations between the River District and property owners cannot be settled to their mutual satisfaction, just compensation will be set by a court- appointed commission or a jury of six. Because the timing is contingent on a license that is currently in the hands of a federal regulatory agency, the River District cannot be more definite about a timetable than to say negotia- tions will begin after licensing, which is anticipated for January, 1982 and possibly later. Construction would commence soon after but only damsites and borrow areas will be needed for the project prior to filling. Property owners that may be affected by the project have already been notified that they will have at least one year's notice after construction begins and that the notice will be given in January, 1982 or later. However, the River District is unable to be more definite because the timetable is in the hands of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. MORE INFORMATION. This summary report is based on a license application filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Copies of the complete, 10-pound docu- ment are available for public inspection during normal business hours at the Moffat County Library and Moffat County Court- house in Craig, the Rio Blanco County Courthouse in Meeker, the Routt County Courthouse in Steamboat Springs and the River District office in Glenwood Springs. Those seeking more informa- tion or having questions should contact the River District, P.O. Box 1120, Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81601,303/945-8522. PROJECT HISTORY, SPONSORS. On March 25, 1905 a withdrawal was made for the White River Reclamation project on the Yampa River near Juniper Springs. Cross Mountain was withdrawn as a federal power site reserve on july 2, 1910. Several subsequent withdrawals and studies were performed on both projects from that point to 1959 when the Colorado River Water Conservation District conducted a field survey on Juniper and received a conditional water decree a year later. The River Dis- trict surveyed Cross Mountain in 1974 and received a conditional water decree on that site in 1975. On February 1, 1977, the Federal Power Commission, predecessor to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commision (FERC), granted the River District a three-year preliminary permit to conduct studies preparatory to license issuance for project construction. During the three years, the River District conducted intensive engine.ering, environ. mental and socio-economic studies costing $1.1 million while consulting with more than 40 local, state and federal agencies in compliance with FERC requirements. The license application was filed with FERC january 31, 1980 beginning a minimum two-year regulatory process prior to issu- ance of a license to construct. In April, 1979, the River District entered into a contractural agreement with Colorado-Ute Electric Association. The agreement, under which Colorado-Ute paid the cost of license application preparation gives it the right to pur- chase power from the project for cost of construction, operation and maintenance plus two mills per kilowatt hour for 50 years. Revenue from the two mills will be used by the River District to construct other projects aimed at putting the waters of the Colorado River to beneficial use for the people of Colorado. There are no state or federal funds involved in the construction of juniper-Cross Mountain; total project cost will be paid by power sales revenues. The River District will own the dams and reservoirs; Colorado-Ute will own the transmission system. Colorado-Ute is a non-profit corporation organized 1Jnder the laws of Colorado to supply all power needs to 13 rural electric cooperatives serving people in Western and Southern Colorado. It is a member of the Rural Electrification Associ- ation's Generation and Transmission Assn. Its members include all or part of 41 of Colorado's 63 counties and in 1979 served 118,000 retail customers. Colorado-Ute experienced an average compound growth rate of 10 percent per year in the ten years prior to 1980. It anticipates an average annual compound growth rate of nine percent through 1990. Colorado-Ute must obtain additional generating capacity beyond that presently in service or under construction to meet forecasted growth in total power requirements. The Colorado River District was created by the state legis- lature in 1937 to safeguardJ conserve and put to beneficial use the waters of the Colorado River Basin for Colorado. It consists of 12 counties and parts of three others bounded by the Utah and Wyoming state lines, the Continental Divide and the San Juan Mountains. It is governed by a board of 15, each appointed by the county commissioners of the respective counties.