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The depletion to Sage Creek caused by Well No. I increases annually until <br />completion of the mining activities in year 15. As discussed earlier, the annual depletion <br />in year IS is expected to be about 0.74 acre-foot, of which about 0.31 acre-foot would <br />occur during the irrigation season. At the direction of the Water Commissioner, Peabody <br />will release up to 0.31 acre-foot each irrigation season from Pond Y-I to replace the out- <br />of-priority depletion. Replacement releases will begin in year I and continue through the <br />reclamation period. <br />If Sage Creek Reservoir is repaired and operated in the future, Pond Y-1 will be in <br />priority only during the years in which Sage Creek Reservoir fills. The State Engineer's <br />records show that Sage Creek Reservoir filled only once in the 12 years of record. This <br />indicates that water would be available to Pond Y-I infrequently and that Pond Y-I <br />would be an unreliable source of replacement water. During the non-irrigation season, <br />the reduction in streamflow above Sage Creek Reservoir caused by Well No. I is <br />expected to be about 0.01 acre-foot. <br />If Sage Creek Reservoir or other storage rights are activated, Peabody will haul <br />water from Wadge Pit Reservoir for storage in and release from Pond Y-I or for release <br />directly to Sage Creek at the direction of the Water Commissioner. Wadge Pit Reservoir <br />is located on a tributary to Grassy Creek at the Seneca II Mine. It has a decreed <br />capacity of 270 acre-feet, and is shown in Plate I. <br />Yampa River <br />The Water Commissioner stated that to his knowledge, there has been no <br />curtailment of junior appropriators due to river calls on the Yampa River. In 1977, the <br />Division Engineer was prepared to enforce a river call; however, precipitation in the late <br />summer eliminated the necessity for curtailment of junior diversions. If certain <br />conditional water rights are developed on the Yampa River, curtailment of junior water <br />rights may be necessary. Therefore, Peabody should be prepared to replace out-of- <br />priority depletions with respect to the Yampa River during the non-irrigation season. <br />Up to 0.43 acre=foot may be required during the non-irrigation season to replace <br />the streamflow depletions caused by Well No. I with respect to the Yampa River. Up to <br />32.67 acre-feet may be required to replace out-of-priority depletions caused by the <br />operation of Pond 006 and Pond Y-I during the non-irrigation season (this assumes one <br />complete fill of each pond). Also, up to 4.3 acre-feet may be required to replace the <br />historical return flow from irrigation of 20 acres under the J.C. Temple Ditch No. I <br />13 <br />