This report deals with questions of water supply for coal deve-
lopment in the semiarid western United States. A method is developed
to evaluate yields of water rights in "appropriation" or "permit"
systems of water administration. Water rights are characterized in
terms of location, priority, decreed maximum diversion, actual diver-
sion in periods of low flow, and consumptive use. Transfers of water
rights are evaluated in this method by using institutional procedures
as a framework for analysis. A case study is performed on the North
Fork of the Powder River, Wyoming, in which institutional considera-
tions are discussed, and water rights are evaluated for a hypothetical
facility.
This procedure is not limited to energy facilities, but may be
used in most cases of water rights trasnfers. The method is designed
for use with easily obtained data in order to facilitate its use in
practice.Sponsored by U.S. Dept. of Energy
