SouthPlatteComments01

• Basin: South Platte
• Title: Comments 1
• Date: 9/26/2003
• SWSI - Doc Type: Comments

Natural Energy Resources Company
P. O. Box 567 Palmer Lake, CO 80133
[phone] Fax (719) 481 N3452

RECE"IVED
SEP 3 0 2003

OoloradQ Water Conservatfon Board

September 26, 2003

Mayor Paul Tauer
City of Aurora
1470 S. Havana
Aurora7 CO 80012

Mayor Lionel Rivera
City of Colorado Springs
P. O. Box 1576-1549
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Subject: Consideration of Union Park Multi-purpose Water Storage Project

Dear Mayor Tauer and Mayor Rivera;

As Colorado's fastest growjng large citiesl Aurora and CoJorado Springs should defer their water
deveJo'pment plansJ until an independent engineering assessment of Union Park's multiple
advantages is considered by elected officjals.

Black and Veatch Engineers-Architects would be an ideal consuJting firm to provide this
assessment. During the early 19805, Black and Veatch heJped conceive Union Park's unique,
high storage, drought protection concept for both slopes~ It also assisted with writing the 125
page Union Park Reconnaissance Evaluatron Study, dated October 19864 Black and Veatch
has an international reputation for objective water planning. Jt is also weH versed with Colorado
water needs and soJutions.

A preliminary sixty day engineering assessment "would revear the foHowing fundamental
advantages for Union Park stakeholders throughout both sides of the Djvide:

· Union Park's 1.2 mjllion acre-feet of high, off-river Gunnison storage can save a four year
supply of CoJorado's undeveloped 300,000 acre-feet Aspinall PooL This pool represents
about a third of CoJorado's unused Colorado River entitlements~ These conserved wet year
fJood 'osses wHI then be avaiJable for flexible gravity distribution throughout the Gunnison,
ColoradoJ Platte, Arkansas, and Rio Grande River Basins, when and where needed, durjng
drought cycles;

· Union Parkls unique drought concept is more productive than five equally sized tradjtionaJ
river dams. The reliability, utility, and quality of existing water supplies will be greatly
increased throughout CoJorado and the Southwestern Region, with Union Park;

· The off-peak pumping costs to flU Unjon Park from the Bureau of Reclamation's existing
Taylor Park and BJue Mesa Reservoirs will be more than offset by revenues from Union
Park's high value peaking power and standby drought protection ca"pabilities;

· Union Park will only store Colorado's wasted AspinaH Pool development rights. These rights
were authorized by Congress in 1957 for Gunnison Basin of origin growth needs (60,000
acre-feet) and state-wide needs (2401000 acre-feet). Since 1957J Gunnison Basin
consumptive needs have declined more that 30%, because of its continuing conversion from
irrigated farming to tourism4 As a resurt Colorado's costly Gunnison losses to California
have been Jncreasrng;