PROJ01870

• Contract/PO #: P.O. 11967
• Contractor Name: Groundwater Appropriators of the South Platte River Basin
• Contract Type: Grant
• Water District: 0
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

FEB 22 '95 03:17PM RBD INC FORT~COLLINS

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1. INTRODUCTION

In line with its long-term objectives of providing water resource management services
for South Platte Valley groundwater users, GASP is interested in the possibilities for
storage of available off-season water resources to facilitate management of in-season
flows of the South Platte River. The concept to be investigated, off-cbannel storage of
alluvial groundwater, would have benefits for virtUally all water users of the South
Platte, and for the State of Colorado in meeting Compact flow obligations.

The proposed project would involve storage of off-season yields of a high-capacity well
field, near the River southwest of the Town of Ovid, which is owned and operated by
. GASP. Water would be stored in an off-channel reservoir on the south side of the River,
then released directly to satisfy irrigation priorities which would otherwise impose a
"Call" affecting more than 40 river miles upstream form the diversion point. It is also
currently estimated that any seepage from the off-channel reservoir would return to the
River in support of augmentation requirements. The project could also offer tangential
benefits for wildlife and recreation enhancement.

2. STUDY OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the reconnaissance study is to identify specific project features for storage
and conveyance of off-season well yields; and to identify any factors associated with
those features which would pose insurmountable obstacles ('Ifatal flaws") to project
implementation.

The study objective is to be met by an assessment of the location for the proposed
facilities, evaluations of Value Added to stored water for various possible uses,
formulation of a specific Project Plan, and preliminary identification of benefits which
would result from Plan implementation.

3. WORK TO BE PERFORMED

The reconnaissance investigation will consist of the four major tasks mentioned in the
preceding paragraph. The f1I'st two of those tasks, Area Assessment and Water Use
Evaluations. have been further divided into sub-tasks as described below:

Task 1:

An Area Assessment will be carried out by determining how much water
could be delivered to storage, evaluations of potential storage sites, and.
power costs associated with water storage and delivery. The first sub-task
will quantify the theoretical volume of water which could be delivered to
. storage over a selected project operational period (in the range of 20-50
years), including depletive effects to the River. The second sub-task will
evaluate potential storage sites to detennine available storage volume,
seepage and evaporation loss estimates, and possible effects of site