South Platte - Ovid Reservoir Comprehensive Feasibility Study_Application

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South Platte Water Related Activities Program, Inc. 220 Water Avenue, Berthoud, Colorado, 80513 June 8, 2007 Mr. Bill Jerke, Chairman South Platte Basin Roundtable P.O. Box 758 Greeley, CO 80632 RE: South Platte Water Related Activities Program, Inc. (SPWRAP) letter of support for Ovid Reservoir SB-l 79 Competitive Statewide Account Grant Request Dear Mr. Jerke: On behalf of the South Platte Water Related Activities Program, Inc. (SPWRAP), I am writing this letter in support of the District 64 Reservoir Company's request for a competitive statewide grant through Senate Bill 05-179 for a comprehensive feasibility study of the Ovid Reservoir Project. SPWRAP is a Colorado nonprofit corporation established by Colorado water users for the purpose of representing water users' interests and partnering with the State of Colorado to implement the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program (PRRIP) in central Nebraska. SPWRAP is interested in the potential ability of the Ovid Reservoir Project to provide water for Colorado's future requirements to the PRRIP through exchange capabilities with existing augmentation plans in the lower end of the South Platte River. Members of the SPWRAP board of directors have met with the District 64 Reservoir Company and the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) during the scoping process for this grant proposal. SPWRAP sees great value in this feasibility study which can be used to analyze the Ovid Reservoir Project with respect to the PRRIP. In addition, SPWRAP has questions about hydrologic and operational modeling of the project and the relationship of Ovid Reservoir with existing and proposed projects in the Lower South Platte River. The comprehensive feasibility study outlined in the grant proposal will address these questions and provide a better understanding of the Ovid Reservoir's overall operations and potential use for the PRRIP. In addition, CWCB will be conducting a parallel Senate Bill 01-157 study of the Ovid Reservoir which will look into potential partnerships, legal considerations and management policies. A joint committee consisting of members from CWCB, SPWRAP and the District 64 Reservoir Company will meet periodically to review, evaluate and coordinate progress from each study. As a member of this joint committee SPWRAP will be evaluating the project and its role as a potential partner in implementing the project. We respectfully submit this letter in support of the District 64 Reservoir Company's Senate Bill 05-179 grant request. Si/~\/ / ~r P4-- .d""6L:H/~ Dave Little, President SPWRAP