WSP04852

• File Number: 8282.650
• Description: Colorado River Water Marketing
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 11/1/1995
• Author: Enartech for CRWCD
• Title: Evaluation of Potential Markets for Reservoir Water Within the Colorado River Basin
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

2.2 WOLFORD MOUNTAIN RESERVOIR AND RUEDI RESERVOIR

The marketable yield of Wolford Mountain Reservoir, and the District's pending contract for 1,500 acre feet
of Ruedi Reservoir water, can supply a significant portion of the anticipated future water demands.
Wolford Mountain Reservoir can be used to supply augmentation water to users upstream of the
Shoshone Demand, as well as users upstream of the senior Cameo rights. Ruedi Reservoir supplies are
of primary value to water users downstream of the Shoshone Demand that require augmentation for
Cameo or for potential instream flow demands.

The timing and amount of demand for District water supplies in either Wolford Mountain Reservoir or
Ruedi Reservoir will be influenced by not only future water demands, but will also be greatly affected by
market conditions or District policies. Market conditions that will influence water demand indude:

. the length of available contracts;
. the availability of competing water supplies;
. the cost of competing water supplies; and
. contract conditions.

If the River District provides long-term contract availability for Wolford Mountain Reservoir supplies, an
increased demand will occur. The amount of immediate demand for Wolford Mountain water may be
limited. However, if long-term contracts are offered, there may be an increased short-term demand for
Wolford Mountain Reservoir water as some users shift from reservoir supplies that may be viewed as
temporary or less reliable than Wolford Mountain water.

2.3 CRWCD SPONSORED PLAN FOR AUGMENTATION

Several local water conservancy districts have developed area-wide water right plans for augmentation.
These augmentation plans provide a significant benefit to many rural water users. These users can
develop a water supply for municipal or industrial purposes simply by obtaining a water supply contract
from the appropriate conservancy district. This district includes the contractee in their area-wide
augmentation plan, and the individual water user does not have to hire a water attorney or an engineer,
and does not have to file a separate plan for augmentation. These area-wide plans simplify and expedite
the development of water supplies and often reduce the overall cost of developing a water supply.

No area-wide augmentation plans have been developed for locations upstream of the Shoshone Demand.
Wolford Mountain Reservoir could provide a foundation for such a plan, as releases from this reservoir
could augment depletions at both the Shoshone Demand and the Cameo Demand.

With the use of Wolford Mountain Reservoir alone, those water users subject only to mainstem calls (such
as the Shoshone and Cameo Demands) could be augmented. Currently, water users that meet this
criteria may be limited in number and would primarily occur along the Colorado River corridor between
Wolford Mountain Reservoir and Dotsero. This may represent a limited augmentation market.

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