Laserfiche WebLink
<br />approximately 40,000 acre-feet of water from Ruedi, but development <br /> <br />of that project is in a doubtful status. A firm municipal and <br /> <br />industrial requirement from Ruedi Reservoir would almost certainly <br /> <br />preclude any irrigation development from that reservoir. <br /> <br />About 80,000 acre-feet of water could also be provided <br /> <br />from the authorized, but not constructed, West Divide federal recla- <br /> <br />mation project. The construction of that project will be dependent <br /> <br />entirely upon the development of a firm municipal and industrial <br /> <br />demand for the water which the project could supply. <br /> <br />In addition to federal sources, there are a number of <br /> <br />privately owned water rights which Gould be purchased--if the price <br /> <br />is right. In fact, various rights have already been purchased and <br /> <br />will provide tne water for at least the initial oil shale production <br /> <br />as now planned. Private rights with historic dates earlier than <br /> <br />1930 are virtually insolated against any demands under the interstate <br /> <br />compacts. However, there is a limiting factor in the purchase and <br /> <br />utilization of existing rights. For instance, the purchase of an <br /> <br />existing irrigation decree for 20 cubic feet of water per second of <br /> <br />time may translate into only half that amount or less when converted <br /> <br />to an oil shale use. In the necessary court proceedings for change <br /> <br />in point of diversion or change in use, cur state water law provides <br /> <br />that other appropriators, even though junior, must be protected from <br /> <br />injury. This simply means that in most cases the purchase and change <br /> <br />-8- <br />