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<br />J~.~~~ ~g <br /> <br />SUMMARY <br /> <br />Utah's apportionment of COlorado River Basin waters <br />because the Reservation is within Utah. This would be <br />consistent with the precedent established by the <br />United States Supreme Court in Arizona v, California. <br />373 U,S, 546. 83 Sup, Ct. 1468 (1963). Thus. while the <br />water probably would not be chargeable to Colorado, it <br />does not necessarily follow that Colorado would be <br />free to take action within Its boundaries that would <br />prevent the Tribe from satisfying any Winters Doctrine <br />entitlements. It is doubtful that the courts would permit <br />use of water in Colorado that would nullify legitimate <br />Winters Doctrine entitlements of Indian tribes located <br />in Utah. Of course, the precise issue has not been <br />considered by the courts and, until or unless it is, or the <br />matter is otherwise resolved, uncertainty regarding it <br />will continue, <br /> <br />As competition for use of water from the White River <br />increases and if a dam is constructed as proposed, it is <br />probable that some division of the water from the river <br />between the two states will be made. either by com- <br />pact or judicial determination, Because the White Riv- <br />er flows partly in Utah and is a part of the Colorado <br />system. and because Utah is entitled to the use of a <br />fixed amount of water from the system under the Up- <br />per Colorado River Basin Compact, it is doubtful that <br />Colorado could consumptively use all of the water of <br />the White River. At present. however. each State's <br />specific entitlements in the river are uncertain and will <br />have to wait for further efforts to determine them, <br /> <br />The BLM has concluded that the White River Dam <br />Project could provide .a reliable source of water for <br />energy development in the Uinta Basin for the ex- <br />pected life of the project. <br /> <br />The habitat requirements and other biological <br />needs of the Colorado squawfish are not fully known. <br /> <br />The FWS has recently completed 1 year field studies <br />along the White River to better understand the require- <br />ments of this endangered fish, Conclusions discussed <br />in this Final EIS reflect available information and the <br />professional judgement as contained in the FWS for- <br />mal Biological Opinion. <br /> <br />The FWS indicated that with the Implementation of <br />the dam operating proceoures and conservation mea- <br />sures described in the Biological Opinion. the White <br />River Dam Project would not seriously impact the re- <br />gion's aquatic ecosystem or the endangered native <br />fish species, The major environmental concern <br />appears to be the cumulative impacts of this project <br />and others proposed within the Upper Green River <br />system. <br /> <br />According to the USBR. water is available from the <br />Flaming Gorge Reservoir for beneficial consumptive <br />uses downstream. However. contracts for the sale of <br />this water would require the approval of the Utah Divi- <br />sion of Water Rights (State Engineer) and the Secre- <br />tary of the Interior, Other institutional requirements <br />would also have to be met. <br /> <br />The USBR has stated that non-Colorado River Stor- <br />age Project (CRSP) developments in the Upper Col- <br />orado River Basin should provide their own mitigation <br />for impacts caused to endangered fishes. and the <br />CRSP system shouid not be expected to or necessari- <br />ly relied upon as the mitigation source, <br /> <br />Other areas of controversy involve such issues as <br />selection of proper dam sites. feasibility of using <br />groundwater for oil shale development, and deter- <br />mination of accurate sedimentation rates, <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br />'1: <br />I <br />