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<br />vat <br /> <br />VRANESH AND RAISCH. UP <br />ATTORNEYS AT LAW <br /> <br />Jerry W. Raisch <br />John R. Henderson <br />Michael D. Shimmin <br />Eugene J. Riordan <br />Paul J. Zilis <br /> <br />1720 14th Street. Suite 200 <br />P.O. Box 871 <br />Boulder, Colorado 80306-0871 <br /> <br />Telephone 303/443-6151 <br />Telecopier 303/443-9586 <br /> <br />Lisa Ledet <br />George Vranesh (1926 -1997) <br /> <br />RECE!li~f; <br /> <br />May 12, 2004 <br /> <br />MAY l.~ 2UU4 <br /> <br />Mr. Jack Byers <br />Assistant State Engineer <br />Office of the State Engineer <br />1313 Sherman Street, #818 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br /> <br />WATER ReSO(JRC~" <br />STATE :':i\..<ii\l'=<''''' <br />COLO. -. <br /> <br />Re: Bijou Irrigation District - Empire Reservoir Dam <br /> <br />Dear Jack: <br /> <br />Bijou Irrigation District ("Bijou") owns the Empire Reservoir. We have been having an ongoing <br />dialogue about spillway and other dam safety issues. Although it took us a bit longer than we <br />anticipated when we last corresponded, Bijou is now in a position to give you an update on our <br />progress. <br /> <br />As you know, an aerial survey of the dam was completed last year. Bijou had hoped that the <br />survey, combined with previous geotechnical analysis, would allow your office to determine that <br />. Jhe dam is adequate in its current condition. However,_your office has made it clear that you. <br />were not able to make that determination. As a result, Bijou is taking the following additional <br />steps to address the dam safety issues at Empire Reservoir. <br /> <br />1. We are in the process of retaining TetraTech-RMC to evaluate and design a spillway to <br />be constructed on the Empire Reservoir Dam. The concept for this spillway will be to <br />discharge into the Bijou Canal, which you have previously indicated is generally <br />acceptabie. <br /> <br />2. This work will include a geotechnical evaluation of the embankment stability for the <br />inflow design flood and subsequent draw down. Our consultant will likely be discussing <br />these issues with your office as this work progresses. <br /> <br />3. Although we understand that the reservoir is currently under a hold order at gauge height <br />29, Bijou's goal is to restore the capacity ofthe reservoir to its original gauge height 30. <br />So, this work will including any evaluation of design, stability, and safety issues needed <br />to do so. <br /> <br />S:\Client\bijougen\byers Itr of 5.12.04.doc <br />