POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF WATER RESOURCES

Thirty-three potential projects are outlined for use of water in the Green division. These projects would be primarily for irrigation and power production, but would have incidental value for flood control, silt retention, river regulation, recreation, and fish and wildlife conservation.

In addition eleven projects, including two alternative schemes, are mentioned which would export an average of 1,137,700 acre-feet of water annually from the Green River Basin to adjoining basins for irrigation and incidental power production.

Potential irrigation development in the division could provide a full supply of water for 639,650 acres of new land and a supplemental supply for 270,730 acres now inadequately irrigated. The present irrigated area thus would be more than doubled and about 50 percent of the lands now irrigated would receive supplemental water.

Eleven power plants could be constructed in the division having a total installed generating capacity of 460,000 kilowatts. Large reservoirs on the main stream would regulate the flow for power production and would help stabilize the flow of the Colorado River at Lee Ferry.

Upper Green River Basin

Six potential projects, one having nine separate units, are outlined for use of water in the upper Green River Basin; four of these would provide an increased water supply for irrigation and would be primarily for power production. Two additional projects which would export surplus water to adjoining basins are also described.

Sublette project. This project includes all of the potential developments for irrigation and power production within the Green River Basin upstream from Green River, Wyo. The nine units comprising the project are interrelated. Return flows from irrigation of the units at higher elevations would augment the water supplies for the lower units. In all 251,080 acres of dry land, and 46,260 acres now inadequately irrigated would receive water. Only one small power plant is included in this project (Elkhorn unit).

West Side unit would provide irrigation water for the northern part of the basin adjacent to Beaver, Horse, Cottonwood, and Piney Creeks, all tributaries of the Green River. A canal heading at a reservoir (capacity 340,000 acre-feet) at the Kendall site and extending south and west 105 miles could serve 66,050 acres, of which 37,000 acres are now inadequately irrigated and 29,050 acres are new land in need of a full water supply.

Daniel unit would irrigate small patches of river bottom land, amounting to 5,160 acres of new land between Kendall reservoir site and the mouth of New Fork River. Enlargement and extension of existing ditches would be re

quired. A reservoir at the Kendall site would provide necessary storage.

Elkhorn unit would irrigate 134,030 acres of new land on the east side of Green River between Kendall reservoir site and Pacific Creek near Eden, Wyo., by a 160-mile main canal heading at Kendall Reservoir and collecting surplus flows from Green River, New Fork River, and Big Sand Creek. Storage would be provided by Kendall, Burnt Lake (capacity 25,000 acre-feet), and Boulder Lake (180,000 acre-feet) reservoirs. A tunnel 1,800 feet long would tap Burnt Lake Reservoir and deliver the water to a penstock where a head of 530 feet would be utilized at a 1,500-kilowatt plant, capable of producing 9,000,000 kilowatt-hours of energy annually. Water used for energy generation would be reregulated at Boulder Lake Reservoir for irrigation purposes.

Paradise unit would involve pumping water from New Fork River to irrigate 4,490 acres of new land along the river below the mouth of Boulder Creek. Seasonal power from the Burnt Lake power plant (Elkhorn unit) would be sufficient for a 32-foot pumping lift. Natural and return flows would be ample without providing reservoir storage.

Eden project extension unit would bring into cultivation 20,250 acres in addition to the 11,470 acres of new land and 8,530 acres of insufficiently irrigated land near Eden, Wyo., that will be served when the Bureau of Reclamation completes the construction of the Eden project. This additional acreage of new land could be irrigated by constructing 12 miles of new canal and extending laterals planned in the present construction program. flows to Big Sandy Creek from upstream irrigation would provide a full water supply.

Return

Lower Big Sandy unit would furnish a full water supply to irrigable lands totaling 11,850 acres on both sides of Big Sandy Creek near its confluence with Green River by gravity diversion of irrigation return flows reaching the creek.

LaBarge unit could bring water to 3,370 acres of new land and 5,540 acres of land now insufficiently irrigated near LaBarge, Wyo. A reservoir of 10,000 acre-feet capacity at the LaBarge Meadows site on LaBarge Creek, together with some new canals and laterals would be required.

Fontenelle unit would require a 5,000 acre-foot reservoir at the Minnie Holden site on Fontenelle Creek with enlargements and extensions of the present distribution system in order to provide water for 2,050 acres of new land and 3,720 acres now lacking an adequate supply along both sides of Fontenelle Creek.

Seedskadee unit would serve 40,830 acres of rich irrigable lands located along both sides of Green River below its confluence with Fontenelle Creek. With the exception of 4,500 acres which would have to be reached by a 33-foot pump lift, the lands could be irrigated by gravity

diversions from the Green River. No reservoir storage would be required. If Fontenelle Dam, a feature of the potential Green River-Bear River Diversion project, is constructed, diversion of water for this unit could be greatly simplified by canals heading in Fontenelle Reservoir at high elevations.

Opal project. To serve 16,020 acres of new land and 5,400 acres now insufficiently irrigated in the Hams Fork area, two new canals diverting southward from Hams Fork and a reservoir with 60,000 acre-feet capacity at the Middle Hams Fork site would have to be provided.

Lyman project.--Storage in an off-stream reservoir of 30,000 acre-feet capacity at the Bridger site would furnish supplemental water to 20,910 acres along Blacks Fork River. The reservoir could be fed by canals from Blacks Fork and the West Fork of Smiths Fork. Downstream from these lands are 3,100 acres which could be irrigated from return flow if an additional new canal were constructed. Also in the vicinity of the Lyman project lands are 7,950 acres under present canals but not now irrigated. Water for these lands could be obtained by the construction of a canal to bring water from the Henrys Fork project.

Henrys Fork project. This project would serve 21,090 acres of irrigated land and 9,190 acres of new land in the Henrys Fork and Sheep Creek areas and in addition the 7,950 acres of new land in the Lyman area. Full development would require utilization of the Big Basin natural reservoir site for the storing of 107,000 acre-feet of water. This reservoir could be formed by the construction of only a small dike, water being supplied from the tributaries of Henrys Fork through a feeder canal. An outlet canal from the reservoir to Henrys Fork lands and the enlargement and extension of the present interstate canal would be required. To serve the new lands in the Lyman area a 30-mile canal extending west from the reservoir would be needed.

Flaming Gorge project.-Flaming Gorge and Horseshoe Canyon on the Green River, 3 to 4 miles south of the Wyoming-Utah boundary, present several alternative sites for a dam to provide for power production and stream regulation. A dam at a point on the river where the water surface elevation is about 5,840 feet above sea level could raise the water surface to elevation 5,995 feet, forming a reservoir with a total capacity of 1,500,000 acre-feet and an active capacity of 1,050,000 acre-feet. The reservoir would be 55 miles long and would reach to within 10 miles of Green River, Wyo., and transcontinental highway US 30. From the reservoir a tunnel could be driven 4 miles to the point where Skull Creek joins the Green River 17 miles downstream from the dam by river route. A short penstock from the tunnel portal would carry water to a power plant at the mouth of Skull Creek, where the tailwater elevation would be 5,700 feet and the maximum static power head 295 feet. With an

installed capacity of 30,000 kilowatts this power plant could produce 158 million kilowatt-hours of firm energy annually.

Red Canyon project. The Red Canyon dam site on Green River is 8 miles east of the mouth of Skull Creek where the Flaming Gorge power plant would be located. In meandering between the two locations the river flows 13 miles and drops 131 feet. This full drop could be utilized for power production by means of a dam at the Red Canyon site and a power plant with an installed capacity of 12,000 kilowatts. The annual firm power production would amount to 68 million kilowatt-hours. The reservoir, confined within near-vertical canyon walls, would have a capacity of 50,000 acre-feet. Stream regulation would have to be provided from the Flaming Gorge development.

South Pass diversion project.—With a 31-mile collecting canal, 8 miles of which would be in rock, to divert flows of East Fork River (tributary to New Fork), Big Sandy Creek, and Little Sandy Creek to Landor Creek an annual average of 50,000 acre-feet of water could be exported from the Green River Basin for use in the Missouri River Basin. The water would supplement flows of North Platte River for irrigating lands in Wyoming.

Green River-Bear River diversion project.-This project would consist of two separate units which would export approximately 337,000 acre-feet of water annually from the Green River Basin to Bear River in the Bonneville Basin for irrigation of lands in Wyoming and Utah and for the production of power. Allowing 20,000 acrefeet for reservoir evaporation the total depletion to the Green River by construction of both units would amount to 357,000 acre-feet.

Hams Fork-Twin Creek unit would export 37,000 acrefeet annually from Hams Fork and LaBarge and Fontenelle Creeks to Twin Creek, tributary of Bear River. The construction of 41 miles of canal, including three tunnels with combined lengths of 5.1 miles, would be required. Collected flows from all three streams would be regulated by Middle Hams Fork Reservoir, also a feature of the Opal project. To regulate the additional flows for export the reservoir capacity would have to be enlarged from 60,000 to 170,000 acre-feet.

Green River-Smiths Fork unit would export 300,000 acre-feet of water annually from the Green River to Smiths Fork, a tributary of Bear River, by means of a 37mile tunnel heading near LaBarge, Wyo., at the potential Fontenelle Reservoir (capacity 400,000 acre-feet). Because of reservoir evaporation the actual depletion to the Green River by construction of this unit would be 320,000 acre-feet annually.

Yampa and White River Basins

Twelve projects for ultimate development of water resources within these basins are outlined. Ten are pri

marily for expansion of irrigation and two are mainly for power production. In addition two plans, one of which is an alternative, to export surplus water to the adjoining North Platte Basin are described as possibilities.

Little Snake River project. With the development of this project 92,110 acres of new land and 15,710 acres now partially irrigated would be furnished irrigation water and 43,000,000 kilowatt-hours of firm power would be produced annually. A reservoir of 15,000 acre-feet capacity at the Savery site on Savery Creek could supplement natural flows in irrigating lands both along the Little Snake River below the point where Savery Creek enters from the north. The enlargement and extension of present canals and the construction of a new canal diverting from Savery Creek would be needed to serve lands on Dolan Mesa, north of Little Snake River.

The

Two reservoirs would be provided on Slater Creek, which flows northward into the Little Snake River. higher reservoir at Columbus Mountain site, with a capacity of 125,000 acre-feet, would receive most of its water by feeder canals from the Middle Fork of the Little Snake River and from Elk River, a tributary of the Yampa River. Water released from this reservoir would be diverted just above Slater Falls and carried by a canal 32 miles long to a 7,500-kilowatt power plant where a power head of 454 feet could be utilized. Tailwater in summer would be diverted into the potential Great Divide canal and carried to 31,000 acres of new land. Twelve miles downstream from the power plant is the Pot Hook reservoir site. A reservoir at this site with a capacity of 85,000 acre-feet would store winter power releases and spring inflow to Slater Creek below the Columbus Mountain Reservoir. Water from the Pot Hook Reservoir would be conveyed by the potential Pot Hook canal, heading at the junction of Slater Creek and Little Snake River, to 44,000 acres of new land south of the Little Snake River and below lands served from the Great Divide canal.

Upper Yampa project.—The irrigation of 11,140 acres of cultivated land and 3,460 acres of new land along the upper Yampa River both above and below the town of Yampa, Colo., would be possible with storage in the Yampa River Reservoir No. 4, with a capacity of 14,000 acre-feet, to supplement natural flows and existing storage.

Wessels project. This project would serve 6,010 acres of new land on benches above present canals and 380 acres now irrigated but in need of a supplemental supply near Steamboat Springs, Colo. The natural flow of the Yampa River augmented by releases from a 15,000 acrefoot reservoir at the Upper Bear site on the Yampa River would provide sufficient water for irrigation.

Mount Harris project.-Supplemental water would be furnished to 1,450 acres of cultivated land and a new supply to 16,600 acres of dry land with the development

of this project. These lands, covering rolling benches south of the Yampa River between Steamboat Springs and Craig, Colo., are mostly on the Hayden Mesa with only a small part in the Twenty Mile Park area. Dunkley Reservoir on Fish Creek with a capacity of 30,000 acre-feet could store water delivered by feeder canals from Williams Fork River and Trout, Middle, and Foidel Creeks. Canals would have to be built to carry the water released for irrigation to the project area.

Great Northern project.-Full irrigation service for 16,010 acres of dry land and 3,260 acres of irrigated land in need of more water along and between Elkhead and Fortification Creeks, northern tributaries to the Yampa River, is possible. A reservoir of 30,000 acre-feet capacity at the California Park site on Elkhead Creek could be fed in part by a feeder canal from Elk River. Water stored in the reservoir would supplement natural flows of the two creeks. A new canal system would be required to carry the water to the lands.

Yellow Jacket project.-Water for irrigating 31,820 acres of new land and 5,950 acres of land requiring supplemental water would be furnished with the development of this project. Most of the land lies on benches south of the Yampa River between the mouth of Williams Fork and Maybell, Colo., but 11,790 acres are along northern tributaries of the White River, north and east of Meeker, Colo. The irrigation supply would come from White River and Milk Creek, a tributary of the Yampa River. A reservoir of 30,000 acre-feet capacity at the Thornburgh site on Milk Creek could serve project lands in the Yampa River drainage area. A canal to carry the unregulated flow of the White River could partly supply the reservoir and could serve adequately project lands along White River tributaries.

Deadman Bench project. This multiple-purpose project would bring irrigation water to 89,720 acres of new land, 28,540 acres of which are in Colorado and 61,180 acres in Utah. It would also produce 87 million kilowatthours of firm energy annually and provide stream regulation, flood control, silt control, and recreational opportunities. A dam across the Yampa River at the Juniper site, 24 miles west of Craig, Colo., raising the water level 185 feet, from the present river elevation of 5,945 feet up to 6,130 feet, would create a reservoir 20 miles long with a capacity of 1,250,000 acre-feet. Of the total reservoir capacity 60,000 acre-feet would be used for irrigation, 740,000 acre-feet for power production and flood control, and 450,000 acre-feet reserved as inactive, but useful for silt control, fish propagation, and recreational purposes. The power plant at the base of the dam would have an installed capacity of 15,000 kilowatts. The irrigation canal would divert from the reservoir 120 feet above stream bed and would carry water to new lands on Deadman Bench between the Yampa and White Rivers.

Maybell project.-Water released from Juniper Reser

voir through the power plant into the Yampa River could be conveyed by a canal to 8,540 acres of dry land along the Yampa River below the reservoir and near the mouth of Little Snake River.

Cross Mountain project. The Yampa River below the Juniper reservoir site flows into Maybell Valley. Cross Mountain blocks the lower end of the valley except for a narrow chasm through which the river escapes. By driving a tunnel 2.3 miles through the mountain and constructing a low diversion dam at the canyon head to divert the river into the tunnel, a fall of 175 feet could be utilized. The dam at river elevation 5,810 feet would be only 15 feet high and the backwater would flood only a few acres. The power plant would have an installed capacity of 18,000 kilowatts, and with stream regulation provided by the upstream Juniper Reservoir, would have an annual firm production of 99 million kilowatt-hours.

Lily Park project. The Little Snake River unites with the Yampa River in Lily Park. A few miles below the confluence of the rivers the valley narrows. Here where the river enters a canyon is the Lily Park power site. The present river surface at the site is at elevation 5,580 feet above sea level. A dam could be constructed to raise the surface 70 feet thus backing the water about 6 miles up the Little Snake River and 12 miles up the Yampa River to Cross Mountain. With the water surface at a maximum elevation of 5,650 feet the reservoir capacity would only be 75,000 acre-feet. Some hay land would be flooded. A larger reservoir is not needed for regulation of the stream below the Juniper Reservoir. Little Snake River would be partially regulated by upstream irrigation developments. A power plant installed at the dam would have a capacity of 10,000 kilowatts and be capable of producing 47 million kilowatt-hours of firm energy annually.

Josephine Basin project. By the extension of the pres ent Miller Ditch to carry the unregulated flow of the White River, 2,400 acres of new land located 4 miles southwest of Meeker, Colo., could be irrigated.

Piceance project.-Piceance Creek flows northwest to join the White River 20 miles west of Meeker. A 5,000 acre-foot reservoir on the creek 30 miles above its mouth could store water for the irrigation of lands along the creek channel, including 610 acres of new land and 2,380 acres of cultivated land in need of a supplemental supply.

Little Snake-North Platte diversion project.--The exportation of about 51,000 acre-feet of water annually from the North Fork of Little Snake River, Battle Creek, and Sandstone Creek to the North Platte Basin for irrigation of lands in Wyoming and by exchange in Colorado would be possible with the construction of a 60-mile canal.

Elk River-North Platte diversion project. Under the tentative plan for development of the Little Snake River a canal would carry water out of the Little Snake River Basin (Little Snake-North Platte diversion project) and

another canal would bring water into the basin from Elk River, a tributary of the Yampa River (Little Snake River project). An alternative plan would eliminate both of these transmountain canals and also the potential Columbus Mountain Reservoir and Slater Falls power development (Little Snake River project), which would be dependent largely upon water imported from Elk River. Additional main stream storage on the Little Snake River at either the Sheep Mountain or the Three Forks sites could furnish part of the water supply that would have been brought from Elk River to lands in the Little Snake River Basin. Approximately 75,000 acre-feet of the flow of Elk River thus would be available annually for diversion by tunnel to the North Platte River for use on lands in Colorado and Wyoming. Further field investigations and an allocation of water between Wyoming and Colorado are prerequisites to final adoption of a plan of development.

Uinta Basin

For the development of the water resources of Uinta Basin 10 projects are outlined for use of water within the basin; 8 of these would be primarily for irrigation and 2 for power production. Two projects, one an alternative, to export surplus water to the Bonneville Basin are also described. The irrigation developments would serve white- and Indian-owned lands. The Office of Indian Affairs is considering a few small projects to provide supplemental water for lands administered by that agency. Most of those are provided for in the plans for basin-wide development.

Moon Lake project extension.-North of the Duchesne River, extending from Rock Creek eastward through the Whiterocks River service area, are 86,200 acres of irrigated land including some owned by Indians that could be furnished supplemental water and 26,300 acres of new land that could be made productive with irrigation water if storage were provided in the following reservoirs: (1) Pelican Lake, 5,200 acre-feet capacity, supplied from Uinta and Whiterocks Rivers; (2) Halfway Hollow, 32,200 acre-feet capacity, also supplied from Uinta and Whiterocks Rivers; (3) Upalco, 12,300 acre-feet capacity, storing flows from Yellowstone Creek; and (4) one or more reservoirs at undetermined sites on Rock Creek or other streams capable of releasing an average of 23,000 acre-feet annually to arable lands on the Blue Bench and, if additional yields are provided to replace natural summer flows, exports of water to the Bonneville Basin through the potential Rock Creek tunnel could be increased accordingly. The first three reservoirs listed would be at offstream sites, but could be fed from existing canals with slight extensions. New construction required would include a service canal from Halfway Hollow Reservoir to Ouray Valley, which would also be usable as a feeder