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<br />, -, \ <br /> <br />Final EnvirorfJ,~Q~ssessment - Board of Water Works of Pueblo <br /> <br />July 2000 <br /> <br />This EA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was prepared by Reclamation in <br />compliance with NEPA and applicable federal laws and statutes. A draft EA and FONSI was <br />released for a 30-day public review and comment period. A notice announcing a 15-day public <br />review and comment period was distributed on May 22, 2000 seeking comment on the <br />proposed enlargement of the upper section of the pipeline. <br /> <br />The FONSI and Responses to Comments precede Chapter One of this EA. Chapter One <br />defines the purpose of, and need for, federal action; generally describes the physical features <br />and operation of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project and the Board's water collection system; <br />describes the environmental setting; and provides other background information. Chapter Two <br />discusses the proposed action and alternatives. Chapter Three describes the existing <br />environment of the area and the effects of the alternatives. Chapter Four concludes the EA <br />with a discussion of public involvement and coordination with other agencies. <br /> <br />PURPOSE <br /> <br />The purpose of this action is to increase the efficiency of the Board's water supply system, <br />conserve water for municipal uses, and improve the quality of the Board's raw water supply. <br />This action also allows development of a potential water delivery alternative from Pueblo <br />Reservoir to Colorado Springs. <br /> <br />NEED <br /> <br />The Board is proposing these actions to increase the efficiency of its water supply system. In <br />addition, connection to the South Outlet Works would normally eliminate the need to convey <br />water in the Arkansas River channel to the Northside and Southside Intakes (Intakes) resulting <br />in higher quality water being deliyered to the Whitlock Water Treatment Plant. <br /> <br />The Board has historically entered into one-year contracts to use "If and when" space in Pueblo <br />Reservoir. Long-term access to "if and when" space would permit the Board to continue to <br />exchange water in Turquoise and Twin lakes with the cities of Colorado Springs and Aurora and <br />other entities, as well as to store the Board's storable water rights. This allows the Board to <br />place water in the "if and when" space for use at the' Board's Intakes Instead of delivering water <br />from the upper basin reservoirs (Clear Creek, Twin Lakes and Turquoise Reservoirs). <br /> <br />Increased summer demand from residential irrigation and fickle weather sometimes work <br />together to produce system Inefficiency. Without "if and when" space in Pueblo Reservoir, the <br />Board releases water from the upper basin reservoirs to meet short-term increases in demand. <br />Travel time for the water from the upper basin reservoirs to the Board's Intakes ranges from 30 <br />to 40 hours. If It rains after water is released from the upper basin reservoirs but before it <br />reaches the Board's Intakes, demand for residential irrigation water falls dramatically. There Is <br />no way to stop this water once It has been released from the upper basin reservoirs for later <br />use unless storage is available between those reservoirs and the Board's Intakes. If there Is no <br /> <br />t <br />j <br />j <br /> <br />2 <br />