Rio Grande Ltr to Reservoir Companies 032207.d

• Basin Roundtable: Rio Grande
• Title: Rio Grande Interbasin Roundtable - What is the Role of Storage to address the San Luis Valley’s Lack of Sustainability in its Water Use and Management?
• Date: 3/22/2007
• Author: Mike Gibson
• Basin Roundtables - Doc Type: Correspondence/Memos

seeking information from you and others, would conduct the study . It is currently
intended that the study be fully funded by the SB 179 funds. The SB 179 monies could
also be a source of funding for future, specific reservoir work .

The elements of such a study would include:
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An inventory of all reservoirs and storage facilities in the Rio Grande Basin.
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A determination of the condition of these facilities, e.g. seepage problems, spillway
configurations and conditions , condition of outlet works, capacity limitations below
the original designed and constructed capacity.
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A determination of the costs to rehabilitate and bring each facility back to a good ,
low cost operating condition, and to its designed capacity, if this is an issue .
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F or each facility, a review of the possibility of increasing the capacity , over and
above the original designed capacity, and an order of magnitude cost estimate to
make such changes . Determine the permitting requirements, Colorado Division of
Water Resour ces and Rio Grande Compact issues, e.g. pre - Compact and post -
Compact storage, and any fatal flaws.
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A review of current storage management practices, and if there are any alternative
practices that meet the owners needs , while considering fisheries, riparia n health,
in - stream flow requirements , Colorado Division of Water Resources and Rio Grande
Compact issues, e.g. pre - Compact and post - Compact storage.
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If current storage management practices were to change , how this could be done to
the satisfaction of all stakeholders.

Any questions or comments related to the broad issue can be addressed at the
meeting .

It is anticipated such comprehensive a study might take up to 12 months and cost as
much as $200,000.00.

It should be noted , that some of the broader as pects of this study, e.g. the need to meet
the Rio Grande Compact obligations, is also being addressed at some level in the
Phase 2 Rio Grande Reservoir Study . The findings of this P hase 2 S tudy form a basis
and will be incorporated into this broader stud y of reservoirs in the Rio Grande Basin /
San L uis Valley .

If you are interested in participating in such a study, the Roundtable will have a third
party consulting firm develop a cost estimate for the stu dy would be prepared for
submission to the R.G. Ro undtable . The Roundtable would be asked to recommend
the study be funded with SB 179 funds administered by CWCB .

If you are interested in being part of this broader reservoir study, please attend
the planned meeting at Adams State College Student Center at 12:45 PM on
Tuesday, April 10, 2007, Room A 131. Please complete the enclosed Response

Form, and return it to me in the enclosed, S.A.E.
This meeting will take place
before the Rio Grande Roundtable meeting, which you are welcome to attend.
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