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<br />Memo To: <br />Mined Land Reclamation -2- Sept. 15, 1977 <br />it in more detail. Colorado is required to deliver at <br />the stateline certain percentages of the native flows of the <br />Colorado River and its .tributaries. At some point in time <br />as water use in the Colorado River watershed increases <br />due to the construction of numerous proposed projects which <br />presently have conditional water rights, the flows at the <br />stateline could be less than that required to meet compact <br />requirements. When this happens, then administration of <br />all water rights in the Colorado River watershed will be <br />necessary so that streamflows can be increased for compact <br />requirements. This administration of water rights will result <br />in the most junior water rights being curtailed first and cur- <br />tailment will continue up the priority system until the compact <br />commitment is satisfied. The loss of 1500 acre-feet annually <br />from the applicant's gravel pit lakes will reduce the flows of <br />the stateline and could result in curtailment of diversions by <br />other water users so that compact commitments can be accom- <br />plished. Thus, the water loss could affect water users any- <br />where on the western slope. <br />5. The applicant has not in our opinion minimized the disturbance <br />to the hydrologic balance. The statement that lining the pits <br />with impervious material is not feasible because of mosquito <br />problems is not adequately explained. It would appear that <br />unlined gravel pit lakes would also have the same potential <br />for mosquito problems. We look forward to more information <br />from the applicant concerning the possibility of artificial <br />recharge to compensate for net evaporation losses or some <br />other method to minimize the impact upon the hydrologic <br />balance of the area . <br />eris A. Danielson <br />JAD/H DS: mvf <br />