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<br />DIANA DEGETTE <br />1ST DISTRICT. COLORADO <br /> <br />E..mail: degette@mail house"gov <br /> <br />(!tnngrells of f4e Initeb tiutes <br />1J;nu.5t of !ittprtsenbtfiu.e.5 <br />llIasqingfnn, 11& 2US15-432!l <br /> <br />ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE <br />SUaCOMMITI'EE ON OVERSlGHT AND <br />J NVESTlGA TrON <br /> <br />SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMERCE1 TRADE <br />AND CONSUMER PROTECTION <br /> <br />SUBCOMMIlTE ON HEALTH <br /> <br />1527 LONGWORTH House OFFlCE BUILOING <br />WASHINGTON, DC 20515 <br />(202) 225-4431 <br />FAX 202~225""5657 <br /> <br />DISTRICT OFFICE: <br />600 GRANT STRE:ET, SUITE 202 <br />DeNvEaJ CO 80203 <br />303-844.4988 <br />fAX 303-844,4996 <br /> <br />March 16, 2006 <br /> <br />The Honorable f)avid Hobson <br />Chairman <br />Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and R.elated Agencies <br />COffilnittee on Appropriations <br />2362B Rayburn House Office Building <br />Washington, DC 20515 <br /> <br />:';, : <br /> <br />I)ear Chairman Hobson: <br /> <br />,'If ,.i <br /> <br />Ij <br />! <br />We, the undersigned members of the Colorado delegation, respectfuhl request that the Energy <br />atld Water Development Subcomnlittee continue the fundirlg for the Chatfield, Cllelry Creek and Bear <br />Creek Reservoirs, Colorado, Omaha District, General Investigations Study. The Almy Corps of <br />Engineers' capability for the continuation of this study in FY07 is $500,000, which will be matched <br />with a commensurate amount of local resources through cash and in-kind services. Funding for this <br />study began in 1999 and has continued through 2006.. The federal cost throng}l FY06 is estitnated to <br />be $1,564,000 and local share is estimated to be $1,565,000 inclu(iing $518,000 in in-kind and <br />$1,04.7,000 in casll~ <br /> <br />r.' <br /> <br />The study area, which includes the three Corps of Ellgineers' project's (Tri-Lakes) located ill the <br />Denver Metropolitan area, includes the South Platte River downstream from the Corps' projects, <br />because of the potential ilnpacts that may be identified during the snl(ly~ The study will examine tbe <br />potential for reassigning storage in the reservoirs for jOitlt uses, including flood control and <br />conservation, fishery habit.at protection and enhancement, municipal and industrial water supply, <br />agriculture, ecosystem restoration, and recreation. TIle stlldy will also examine the potential to use <br />reallocated storage to assure a water source for numerous environmental restoration projects being <br />undertaken or envisioned, in the South Platte River floodplain downstream from the projects. <br /> <br />TIle study has strong potential to identify improved allocation of storage that tile Corps of <br />Engineers has determined is available in Chatfield reservoir. This, in turn, can help to address the <br />great need for water supply in the South Platte River watershed while at the same time increasing the <br />environmental and recreational benefits to the river corridor downstream of the reservoir through <br />improved releases. <br /> <br />It will take the Omaha Corps and local sponsors one to two more years to complete the study, <br />which is vital to the dozens of local water users and water interests that share the South Platte River <br />resources. <br /> <br />We recognize the difficult decisions you must make given the current budget climate, and hope <br />you recognize the importance of this study, which has already received federal anp local support. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />i-1. <br /> <br /> <br />· tIJht <br /> <br />iana DeGette (CO....Ol) <br />Member of Congress <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />.........-...-.......-...-..-..-------t:-- <br /> <br />Mark tIdal1 (CO~02) l.~ <br />Member of Congress :, <br /> <br />PA1NTED ON RECyCLED PAPER <br />(S)~'I <br /> <br />-; .., <br />, : <br />,) <br />