<br />. :... .0 _
<br />
<br />0212:49
<br />
<br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
<br />
<br />:~:.:~::~:.=::':.:,~8"~;:W~::~:~;:::M::;~:~::=:~;::::~~'~::;:':~::;:;a.::::~>~::~<::':::;:::::-:.:.~:,~:;;:.:~::;,i::.:;:';;::~~:;:;::'::-::=:;:.::;"::<~:;::;:;:::~::::;:;:.,;:::::,,:,,:~.:":,:,:~,<;.<::;:,,}~::<::.:.::::.::::::=:::::~::<~:;:;,;:~~:::::::;(.::"::-::=:::;:~:.;.:~::::,:=:::::,:;;:'::::;:,,,,:::;::~::::;>~;::,~::::::;::::;:':;:.:".;:~,,:=::::;:~:;:::~:,:,:
<br />
<br />INFILTRATION GALLERY EXPANSION ALTERNATIVE
<br />
<br />Another alternative available to the City and Mt. Werner is the Infiltration Gallery Expansion. The
<br />City and Mt. Werner have both constructed infiltration galleries (also known as well fields) to
<br />augment the water supplied from the Fish Creek basin. The main purpose of the infiltration
<br />galleries is to provide a point of redundancy to the primary Fish Creek water supply. The galleries
<br />are also utilized as a supplemental supply during peak water demands.
<br />
<br />There have been water quality concerns associated with the use of the infiltration galleries. The
<br />alluvial groundwater of the Yampa River Basin has a high mineral content and is higher in alkalinity,
<br />hardness, and dissolved solids than the Fish Creek source. Additionally, the alluvial groundwater
<br />has relatively high concentrations of iron and manganese and has exceeded secondary drinking water
<br />standards. While iron and manganese are not suspected to cause any health problems, they are
<br />known to create aesthetic impacts such as objectionable taste and odor; staining of fixtures; and pool
<br />discoloration.
<br />
<br />Under the Infiltration Gallery Expansion Alternative, the City and Mt. Werner would expand the
<br />galleries and pump water from this system into the service area. A second water filtration plant (in
<br />addition to the existing Fish Creek Filtration Plant) would be constructed at the infiltration gallery
<br />site and the City and Mt. Werner would have to operate tWO separately located facilities.
<br />
<br />Environmental Consequences of the Infiltration Gallery Expansion
<br />
<br />Environmental consequences associated with the expansion of the infiltration galleries include the
<br />following:
<br />
<br />. Inferior water quality provided to a portion of the community
<br />
<br />. Loss of a redundant (back-up) water source
<br />
<br />. Impact to approximately 3 acres of wetlands
<br />
<br />. Impact to high value riparian area and disturbance to heron rookery in the Yampa
<br />Valley
<br />
<br />. A long-term fisheries pool at the existing reservoir may not be possible
<br />
<br />. Long-term in-stream flow augmentation in lower Fish Creek may nOt be possible
<br />
<br />. The need to construct, operate, and maintain a second water filtration plant
<br />
<br />. The need to construct, operate and maintain additional water distribution facilities
<br />
<br />. Greater operation and maintenance (O&M) costs (resulting in higher Water rates)
<br />associated with additional treatment and pumping
<br />
<br />. Higher power requirements for pumping (resulting in increased utilization of non-
<br />renewable energy resources and increased air pollution)
<br />
<br />. Modernization and upgrade of the Fish Creek Reservoir would not occur
<br />
<br />,~~~,:{(~,:,~::<,~,"..:{.'.W:'h.,>.'!.-:ill(1X.:'X:=:>M-:.Z,:>.~;,l;"h.y....,,;,'.'.-:.;>:;;,~:,;~,'.'.~-:-;..;<::,.;-;-;~:;~~:y,.'.,,,~\,~,....,;:;,Y..5",~~..~m"'~;::;~;:;:"Y~"Y'\~;>;-;\l'N,':',.;;:,~~::~.:,~~;.";.-.,;;:.,,~..;;m;.,.,"}:~.\;.""z::;>"},w.-><;.""";';:;:>..:..;~,,?l.'='.:z:..;<i>;.~;.':<<'.@.'!~.~,t,'.~'='~;>>.
<br />
<br />September 1993
<br />
<br />Page S-lI
<br />
|