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<br /> <br />rl ff 0;:' r.~ ,': F''':'' o"!" <br />~ ",,) :.,..j d ,J <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Problems and Needs of the Area <br /> <br />Creek and South Boulder Creek pose threats to developments on the flood <br />plains in Boulder and the surrounding area. Extensive flooding of <br />St. Vrain Creek could cause serious damage to Lyons and the southern <br />part of Longmont. Alleviation of the threat of floods may be one of <br />the prime needs for storage on South Boulder, Boulder, and St. Vrain <br />Creeks' . <br /> <br />STREAM POLLUTION <br /> <br />The Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, in its appended <br />letter report, indicates that degradation of biological water quality <br />occurs in the entire reach of the St. Vrain Creek east of Longmont. <br />Major waste discharges to st. Vrain Creek occur from a sugar beet mill <br />and cannery when they are operating and from municipal sewage effluent. <br />Some degradation of water quality occurs on the lower reach of Boulder <br />Creek as a result of municipal sewage effluent. At the mouth, St, Vrain . <br />Creek carries a waste load exceeding all biological water quality objectiv~s. <br /> <br />WATER MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Significant reuse of the diverted water in the St. Vrain Cre,ek <br />basin is not being accomplished. There are no major diversions below <br />reaches where significant amounts of return flow occur; hence, a large <br />portion of the return flow is outflow to the South Platte River. A <br />development to redivert and store this water for subsequent use would <br />greatly improve utilization of the present in-basin supply. <br /> <br />The lack of a large storage facility in the basin has resulted in <br />20 to 25 percent of the water originating in the basin leaving it unused. <br />These lOElses are further compound,ed due to extreme fluctuations in the <br />annual spring runoff . Although most of the lower plains area is highly <br />developed for irrigation, existing off-channel storage reservoirs. are' <br />small and shallow with accompanying pigh evaporation and seepage losses <br />in relation ,to the amount stored. <br /> <br />Optimum management of the water resources in the basin would suggest <br />the elimination of the less-efficient plains reservoirs and the provision . <br />of large more efficient reservoirs in the foothills or mountains. How-. <br />ever, the growing enthusiasm for recreational use of every lake, large <br />and small, may preclude elimination of the plains reservoirs. The exist- <br />ing irrigation distribution systems in the basin are an intricate web of <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br />Rev. 10/1967 <br /> <br />,."i <br />