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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ". <""j,~-~' ",1 ~" , I OPERATIONAL STUDY OF RUEDI RESERVOIR RELEASES FOR THE MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY OF BATTLEMENT MESA SECTION I - BACKGROUND STATEMENT OF PURPOSE This report presents the findings of a study prepared by Wright Water Engineers at the request of Battlement Mesa, Inc. This work is part of an overa 11 effort concerni ng rep 1 acement water requi red to protect downstream senior water rights when Battlement Mesa is diverting water from the Colorado River out of priority. The major objective of this study is to investigate the timing and volume of required releases from Ruedi Reservoir for replacement and the effect of these releases on streamflow downstream from the reservoir. Analysis is also included concerning the effects of these releases on downstream water quality and Ruedi Reservoir levels. BATTLEMENT MESA Battlement Mesa is a new community being developed by the Colony Shale Oil Project to serve the growth associated with the oil shale industry. Located on the south side of the Colorado River near the town of Parachute, Colorado (see Figure I), Battlement Mesa derives its primary municipal water supply from the Dow Pumping Plant and Pipeline. This water right diverts from the main stem of the Colorado River and has an appropriation date of January 24, 1955, and an adjudication date of November 10, 1966. While the Dow Pumping Plant and Pipeline is decreed for a total of 178 cfs, 20 cfs of this amount was conveyed to Battlement Mesa for municipal purposes and changed to an alternate diversion point on the south bank of the Colorado River (see Figure 1). The remaining 158 cfs of this water right diverts from the north bank of the Colorado River and is owned by the Colony Shale Oil Project and will be used for industrial and related oil shale uses. This detailed oper- ational study is for the portion of the 20 cfs of the Dow Pumping Plant and Pipeline which will be used to supply the municipal water requirements for the projected 20,000 people who will live in Battlement Mesa. (1)