Article Contributed on: 1/9/2009 10:28:14 AM
The US Army Corps of Engineers is preparing a Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement to develop costs and evaluate impacts on four proposals related to the Chatfield Reservoir. The Roxborough Water and Sanitation District is participating with many local and state groups in the study.
Background:
Chatfield Reservoir was built in 1975 by the Corps of Engineers to control flooding. Over 350,000 acre-feet of water can be stored. In addition to flood control, the Reservoir is also used for other purposes: municipal, industrial, agricultural and recreational uses.
The Four Proposals:
Two of the four proposals propose no new storage in the Reservoir. The third proposal envisions raising the top level of the Reservoir by 5 feet to provide for an additional 7,700 Acre Feet of storage. The fourth proposal, and the one most likely to be pursued,
calls for raising the level 12 feet to 5,444 feet above mean sea level. This is the maximum amount of additional storage possible without affecting the flood control purpose. An additional 20,600 acre-feet of water storage is possible. In this scenario, fifteen water users would share the new storage.
Why Additional Capacity Is Needed:
· Colorado's population is projected to increase from 4.34 million in 2000 to 7.16 million in 2030.
· Demand along the Front Range will exceed supply by 22%. 90,700 acre-feet of additional water will be needed to meet the need by 2030.
· Water users view Chatfield Reservoir as one of the potential solutions to this unmet demand.
Roxborough Water and Sanitation District GM Larry Moore said the District has committed to purchase 500 acre-feet of water from Chatfield, and will seek to purchase an additional 40 acre-feet to meet expected future growth needs in the District.
Moore said that all of the current facilities around the current reservoir (principally recreational facilities) will have to be replaced if the 12-foot increase proposal is adopted. The concept behind the current study is to
re-designate water storage space that is currently used for flood control purposes to space for both flood control and conservation purposes thereby increasing the capacity for multipurpose water. The Corps will seek comments from the public to a draft plan that will be released in 2009. Questions can be directed to 1-866-643-5875. A Web site will soon be available for more information and to add your name to a mailing list: www.chatfieldstudy.org.