12b

• Board Meeting Date: 11/19/2003
• Description: Flood Section - Chatfield Downstream Channel Improvement Project Authorizing Language Amendment to SB 79-537
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

TO:
FROM:
DA TE:
SUBJECT:

MEMORANDUM

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
Larry Lang, P.E., Chief, Flood Protection Section
November 6, 2003
Agenda Item 12b, November 19-21, 2003 Board Meeting--
Chatfield Downstream Channel Improvement Project Authorizing
Language Amendment to SB 79-537

1:)111 Uwens
Governor

Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

Background
The CWCB is a project sponsor for the Chatfield Dam & Reservoir, Reservoir Reallocation Study and Chatfield
Downstream Channel Improvement Project. These projects provide many benefits for the State of Colorado. In September
1999 a Federal Cost-Share Agreement (FCSA) was signed by the US Army Corps of Engineers - Omaha District (Corps)
and the CWCB. The agreement was for the Chatfield Reservoir Feasibility Reallocation Study to determine the feasibility
of additional water supply storage. Current water supply storage levels are at 27,000 acre-feet.

Funding Request
The CWCB was advised by the Corps that additional funds and a schedule extension will be required to meet the
performance of the work tasks under the existing FCSA. The good news is that many of the 72 required tasks between the
Corps and Board have been completed or are underway. The initial hydrologic and hydraulic determinations offer up to
20,600 acre-feet of additional water supply pending the completion of the Environmental Impact Statement. The Corps
estimates that $1,177,625 is needed to complete all of the work tasks and finish the study. The FCSA is a 50/50 cost share
agreement between the Corps and the non-federal study sponsor (CWCB). The Non federal cost share for project
completion is approximately $588,813 that is scheduled for fall 2005. CWCB staff is not requesting $588,813 but is
requesting $150,000 to continue on in the study and meet commitments in the FCSA with the Corps.

Available Funds
Unencumbered Construction Fund dollars are available in the Chatfield Downstream Channel Improvement Project
account authorized by SB 79-537 if funds are reassigned. These available funds were reserved for the CWCB's Operation
& Maintenance responsibilities for the Chatfield Downstream Channel Improvement Project. In fact, a section 1135 project
between the CWCB, Urban Drainage & Flood Control District and the Corps has been proposed that will look at updating
the operations and maintenance manual to allow certain vegetative growth along the project reach but also to require the
elimination of other vegetation to improve channel conveyance. By an amendment to the original 1979 Project
authorization language some of these funds could be made available for related planning studies like the Chatfield
Reallocation Reservoir Study.

Recommendation
Staff recommendation is to reassign funds from original authorization in SB 79-537, Section 4 (2). Amendment to the
language will provide funds to continue commitments in the FCSA. The proposed amendment is in bold and is as follows:
"The Chatfield project channel improvement and the Rio Grande Reservoir project authorized by this section shall be
constructed as first priorities from the first moneys made available to the Colorado water conservation board construction
fund pursuant to section 39-26-123.1, Colorado Revised Statues 1973. The funds made available for the Chatfield project
channel improvement may be expended, including up to $150,000 for Chatfield related planning studies, through a
contract with the United States by which the United States agrees to provide not less than one-half of the total cost of said
channel improvement."

Attachments:

November 2003 Corps budget projection for project completion & SB 79-537

Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning