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<br />4.8 Small Dam. Site Reconnaissance Program <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The staff has requested the Board to consider initiating a small dam site reconnaissance <br />program to be conducted by existing staff supported by $35,000 from the fund for equipment and <br />supplies. With the organized effort by environmental groups to oppose the construction of dams, <br />it is becoming too costly to construct large scale water resources projects. In the new <br />construction climate, we must look to other ways to preselVe our compact entitlement. In <br />preparing its dam site inventory, the Board was instructed to gather data on potential sites with <br />a capacity over 50,000 acre-feet for the purpose of eventually identifying sites that should be <br />discontinued. The same technique used to compile the list of potential large projects could be <br />used to compile a list of smaller potential reselVoir sites. The purpose of this proposed program <br />would be to identify damsites statewide with a range in capacity of between 10,000 to 20,000 <br />acre-feet that are practical and economically feasible to construct. The Board could then <br />encourage local governments and water conselVancy districts to build these smaller reselVoirs <br />with support from the construction fund. The sum of several small reselVoirs may make a <br />significant contribution to water resources development in Colorado without damaging the <br />environment. <br /> <br />4.9 NCWCD Southern Pipeline <br /> <br />The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District has advised the Board that it may request <br />construction fund monies as part of a financial package in support of their southern raw water . <br />pipeline. While the majority of the project qualifies for funding through the Colorado Water and <br />Power Authority (CWR&PDA), several small towns along the pipeline do not qualify. Staff has <br />evaluated the preliminary engineering reports and the CWR&PDA estimates about 10% of the <br />total project cost, or up to $5,000,000, may be needed by the communities of Hudson, Keensburg, <br />Roggen, and Wiggins. <br /> <br />4.10 Legislative Issues and Recommended Changes to Statutes <br /> <br />Level of Construction Fund Activitv <br /> <br />In recent years the Construction Fund had essentially achieved a balance between income and <br />expenditures. As a revolving cash fund, it has become a reliable source of funding. However, <br />that level will not allow significant increase in activity, such as is essential to address the backlog <br />of facilities under restriction for dam safety reasons. Weare losing our capacity to store and <br />deliver water. <br /> <br />In 1986, the General Assembly enacted lIB 1340 which was to provide a new infusion of <br />moneys to the fund beginning July 1, 1988, and ending July 1, 1990, for a total appropriation of <br />$27.5 million. Along with a subsequent reallocation of half of the funds to a wildlife mitigation . <br />account, the transfer has been postponed every session since and deferral is anticipated again <br />during the 1993 session. While the Board is fully aware of the economic adversities affecting <br /> <br />. CWCB Annual Report, page 20 <br />