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~:;.......",.. - -" Federal Register I Vol. 46. No. 128 I Monday. July 6. 1981 I Notices 35067 1. Upper Green River, The estimaled average annual natural flow at the outflow point of this area is about 2 maf, Average annual depletions are esllmaled at 317,000 acre-feel under present conditions and 482.000 acre-feet for future conventional uses. In 2(X)(}. synfuels production would deplete another 14.400 acre-feet under the baseline case and 30,200 acre-feet under the accelerated case, Since projected synfuels development under either case would require less than 2 percent of the a\'erage annual outflow from this area snd since the area has already de\'eloped substantial water supplies (Fontenelle and Flaming Gorge . reservoirs). only transport facilities are necessary to support water utiliz.atlon. The level of future tolal depletions i. well within Wyoming'. compact entitlements. 2. Yompo River, The estlmaled average annual natural flow at the outflow poinl of this area is over 1.7 maf. Average annual depletions are estimated at 114.000 acre-feet under present conditions and 181.000 acre-feet for future conventional uses. Synfuel production would deplete another estimsted 10,500 acre-feet under the accelerated case and none for the baseline case. Projecled synfuels development would reduce average outnow from the area by less than 1 percent. Facility siting will probably be in the Craig-Hayden area of Colorado. In this area during low.flow conditions. diversions may be precluded by downstream senior water rights. Therefore. a small amount of reservoir storage, not to exceed 5,000 acre-feet of active storage, would be needed. The le\'el of future total depletions is within compact entitlement! for the Yampa River. ".- J. White Ril'er. Colorado and Utah. The estimated average annual natural flow at the outflow point of this area is 568,000 acre-feet. Aversge annual depletions are estimated a147,000 acre- feet under present conditions and 80,000 acre-feel for future conventional uses. In 2JXXl. synfuel production would deplete another 141.000 acre-feet under tbe baseline case and 240.200 acre-feet under the accelerated case. There presently is no compact between Colorado and Utab allocating the surface walers of the While Rh-er. The area has a sufficienl o\-erall waler supply 10 support the projected le\"els of a synfuel de\'elopment. Howe\-er, analysis of seuonallow nows and dry }'eaN! indicates thai bolh le\-8'4s of synfuels development will require substantial amounts of reservoir storage. 4. Upper Colorado Main Stem. The estimated average annual naturel now at the outflow point of this area is 5.7 maf, Average annual depletions excluding the Gunnison River drainage are estimated at 991,000 acre-feet under present conditions and t.ll maf for future conventional uses. In 2(X)(), synfuel production would deplete another 28.800 acre-feel under the baseline ca.e and 84,000 acre-feel under the accelerated case. Direct diversion. from the Colorado River in the Grand Valley-DeBeque area could supply the projected synfuel developmenl throughout most of the year. but the lupply would be subject to downstream senior agricultural right.. which would occasionally curtail diversion. An estimated 15.000 to 35,000 acre-feel of active reservoir storage (depending on the synfuel development le\'el} would be needed to ensure an adequate lupply during these periods. Waler could also be purchased from Federal ft'servoirs such as the Ruedi. SynIuele development below Crand Junction oould utilize direct flow diveN!ions, There are no specific interstate compact PrQ':'isions for this ~., 5. Lower Green River. The estimated average annual natural flow of this area as measured at Green River. Utah. Is about 5.5 maf annually and includes the outflow of the Yampa and While Rivers and Upper Creen River area. Average annual depletions within the area are estimated at 613.000 acre.feel under present conditions and 691,000 acre.feet . for future conventional uses. In 2000. synfuels produclion would deplele another 4,000 acre-feet under the baseline case and 14.500 acre-feet under the accelerated case. Flows [q the Lower Green River are also reduced by dephitlons in upstream areas. the Upper Green River and the While and Yampa Rivers. Depletions in these upstream areas by conventional uses are projected to increase from 478.000 acre-feet annually under present conditions to 743,000 acre-feet annually in 2000. Depletions by..synfuels development in these upstream areas are estimaled at 156.000 acre-feet annually for the baseline case and 280.900 acre.feet annually for the accelerated case. The total2JXXl depletion. as measured at the outflow of the Lower Green River developmenl area under the accelerated case would be tess than 2 million acre.feet annually or aboul 35 percent of the natural flow. Assumed coal gasificalion facilities in Ihe development area could be located close to the Green River. SinC1! the lowest monthly nows exceed 30.000 acre-feet. an adequate water supply should be available withoul .upplemental reservoir storage. 6. Son Juan River Colorado (llId New I>fexico. The estimated average annual natural now at the oulnow point of this area is about 2.1 maf. Average annual deplelions are estimated al382,OOO acre- feel under present conditions and 765,000 acre-feet for future conventional usell. In 2000. synfuel production would deplete 63.200 acre.feet under the baseline case and 62,200 acre-feet under Ihe accelerated case. Navajo Reservoir has over 48.000 acre-feet of water for sale. An additional 35,000 acre-feet has already been contracted for a proposed coal gasification facility. Developments sited in New Mexico would probsbly purchase water supplies from the Navajo Reservoir. The 12.000 acre. feet needed In Colorado could be obtained from the Piedra. Los Pinos. Florida. Animas. or La Plata RiveN!, with some storage necessary on all bUI the Animas. The total depletions In New Mexico under the accelerated case (conventional use.. synfuels development. and New Mexico's share of CRSP reservoir evaporation) will approximate Ihe amount of water available to New ~texico under provisions of the Upper Basin Compect and with conservative hydrologiC interpretation of waters available to the Upper Basin under provisions of the Colorado River Compact. 7. Upper Basin Supplies. Operation studies using the Colorado River System Simulation Model Indicate that with Upper Basin depletions for conventional uses and CRSP evaporation of 5.17 million acre-feet annually in 2(X)(}, and with the annual 441,000 acre-feet consumptive use requirements of the accelerated case. the expected outflow from the nasin at Lees Ferry. Arizona. would exceed 9.6 million acre-feet. Moreover. the studics found that there was alleast a 50 percent probability that the outnow in 2000 would exceed 8_23 million acre-feet. These findings indicate that synfuels de\'elopmcnl in the Upper Basin would not be constrained by the Colorado Rh'er Compact. at least up to the levels of development projected in the accelerated case. The operation studies assumed current U.S_ Department of the Inlerior criteria for operation of CRSP reservoirs and other elements of the "Law of the River." Water allocations of the Upper Basin Compact may constrain synfuels de\'elopment in individual Upper Basin States. The situation in Ihe San Juan R!\'er development area with respect to New Mexico has been mentioned. I 0378