WSP07855

• File Number: 8200.765
• Description: Little Snake River General
• State: CO
• Basin: Yampa/White
• Water Division: 6
• Date: 8/23/1990
• Author: Western Water Consul
• Title: Draft Appraisal of P and M Conditional Water Rights for Three Forks Reservoir Project - Little Snake River Basin
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Bishop, Brodgen & Rumph, Inc. did an appraisal of water rights for the proposed

Stagecoach Reservoir in 1986. The appraisal was prepared for the Colorado Water

Conservation Board. They reported on some water right sales which varied from about

$50 per acre-foot at 1982 prices (Fosha, 1982) to $1,500 per acre-foot for transfer to the

eastern slope. The report concluded that the value of the water rights for the Stagecoach

Project could be valued at between $5,237,000 and $4,616,000 if the construction costs

were ascribed to recreation, developmental and power production. This appraisal value

is equivalent to a range of $518 to $457 per acre-foot of long-term firm yield of 10,100

acre-feet. The Nisley appraisal reported that the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy

District purchased the conditional water rights for Bear Reservoir and the Four Counties

Ditch to obtain the 10,100 acre-feet of firm yield for $218 per acre-foot.

In addition to market sales, water contract sales can also provide insight into the

value of water. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the managers of several districts

which distribute water from Bureau of Reclamation projects were contacted to determine

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the price charged for water delivered to M & I customers. A list of these charges are

shown below:

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Proiect Sales

Aspinall Unit
Fontenelle Project
Reudi
Navajo
Dallas Cr. Project
Dolores Project
Weber Basin Project
Palisade Reservoir
Glendo Reservoir

$54/AF/yr.
$42.50IAF/yr.
$435/AF
$59/AF/yr.
$3001AF
$100/AF/yr.
$ 132/AF/yr.
$ 18/AF
$75/AF

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