C150152 Feasibility Study - Laserfiche WebLink

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Elk Creek, then into New Castle street right-of-way for Midland Avenue, then following County Road 245 up to the existing New Castle water treatment plant. Please provide a brief narrative description of the proposed project including purpose, need, facilities, type of water uses to be served and service area, Attach separate sheet, if needed. Record low flows in East Elk Creek and the Spring Creek wildfire of 2002 have severely strained the Town of New Castle's current sole source of water supply. The Town's diversion structure is located on East Elk Creek approximately three miles upstream of the town center and confluence of Main Elk Creek with the Colorado River. The Town has a water right of 2.67 cfs with an appropriation date of 1889. Water from the treatment facility is delivered to one of three storage facilities used for supply to the Town and surrounding subdivisions. On June 22, 2002, lightning started the Spring Creek Fire just north of New Castle in the White River National Forest. The fire ultimately burned a total of 13,490 acres and has damaged a considerable portion of the East Elk Creek watershed. Significant water quality and sediment problems are anticipated during periods of heavy rain and snowmelt runoff. On August 16th, 2002, the Colorado Division of Water Resources (State Engineer's Office) placed an administrative call on Main Elk Creek and requested that the Town close their head-gate on East Elk Creek. The Ware and Hinds Ditch placed the water rights call due to insufficient flow on Main Elk Creek downstream of the confluence with East Elk Creek. The ditch has multiple water rights senior to the Town of New Castle and is an important irrigation ditch for several downstream users. Subsequent agreements between the Town, the State Engineer's Office, and the downstream senior water right holders allowed the Town to temporarily continue diverting. An additional downstream water right held by the Colorado Water Conservancy District requires a minimum in-stream flow to be maintained during periods of low flow. In an average water year, the Town is able to support its current and projected demands with the flow in East Elk Creek and its decreed water right(s). However, in the current drought situation, low creek flows have threatened the reliability of this source. Modifications to the diversion structure have thus far allowed continuous physical diversion of water to the treatment plant. However, the administration of water rights downstream of the Town's point of diversion has threatened to "dry up" the Town's water supply. Additionally, the anticipated damage associated with sediment and ash-laden runoff from the burned watershed from the 2002 Spring Creek Fire is of significant concern. The Town of New Castle has a contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for 400 acre-feet of water from Ruedi Reservoir. In addition, the Town has an absolute water