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I I I II. DESCRIPTION OF HOMESTAKE PROJECT A. EXISTING PROJECT FACILITIES The Homestake Project is a transmountain water diversion system. It collects water from the western slope of the Contin- ental Divide and transfers it to the eastern slope for beneficial use by the Cities of Aurora and Colorado Springs. hereafter referred to as the Cities. Rights to the western slope water, taken from Eagle River tributaries in the Colorado River Basin, were adjudicated by the Homestake Decree in 1962. I I I I The decree provided for two divisions in the collection system: (1) the Eagle-Arkansas Division to collect waters from tributaries generally on the east side of the Eagle River and (2) the Homestake Division to collect waters from tributaries on the west side of the Eagle River. I I I I I The project generally consists of facilities for (1) collection, (2) upstream storage, (3) delivery. and (4) downstream storage of water. Major components of the joint facilities for upstream storage and delivery of water are complete, Each City has or will deve I op individual downstream storage facilities. Those for Colorado Springs are essentially completed; whereas. Aurora is presently considering additional storage sites. Phase 1 of the Homestake Division collection facilities has been completed. Phase 2 collection facilities under the Homestake Division are the subject of this environmental study and report. Collection facilities under the Eagle-Arkansas Division are also discussed herein due to their close relationship to economic Feasibili/y of the overall Homestake Project; however. the en. vironmen~ impacts of the Eagle-Arkansas Project are not the subject o~is report. o 1. Completed Phase 1 Collection System The Homestake Division Phase 1 collection facilities (Exhibit 1) I I divert water from Homestake Creek and its tributaries. These facilities were placed in service in 1967. The upper waters of Homestake Creek are impounded by Home- stake Dam. Water from the East Fork of Homestake Creek is diverted, transported by pipeline. and discharged into Homestake Reservoir. From the western slope of Homestake Creek water- shed. the waters of Sopris Creek, Missouri Creek. Fancy Creek and French Creek are diverted and transported by pipeline to the Missouri Tunnel and thence into the western side of Homestake Reservoir. Each stream diversion point is located at or above elevation 10,300 mean sea level (MSU to provide sufficient head for gravity flow into Homestake Reservoir. Each diversion facility includes a small rockfill dam of the overflow type. a gated inlet structure, Parshall flume for flow measurement. and an outlet pipeline. This collection system has. for practical purposes, devel, oped the allocated gravity flow potential of Homestake Creek, The collection facilities are located in Townships 7 and 8 South. Range 81 West, Eagle County, Colorado. 2. ComplErted Upstream Storage System Primary upstream storage for Homestake water is provided by the Homestake Reservoir with storage capacity of 45.000 acre- feet at water surface elevation 10.257, Supplemental upstream storage is available in Turquoise Reservoi r by agreement with the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR). Water is transferred by gravity from Homestake Reservoir through the 5.5 mile Home- stake Tunnel to the Arkansas River Basin. Future supplementary upstream storage is allocated in the Twin Lakes Reservoir, pro- posed for enlargement under the USBR Frying Pan-Arkansas Project. 3. Completed Delivery System The joint delivery system consists. in order. from Homestake Reservoir of: (1) the Homestake Tunnel from Homestake Reser- 11