GunnisonComments07

• Basin: Gunnison
• Title: Comments 7
• Date: 2/2/2004
• SWSI - Doc Type: Comments

Union Park HiQh Altitude Pumped~Stora~e Proposal

Mvth Since EPA vetoed Two Forks DamJ a few influential local and CDNR readers
have claimed Union ParkJs high, off-river, storage project fS another destructjve east slope
water grab, with no redeeming economic or environmentaJ values.

Realitv Union Park is an unprecedentedJ multi-purpose water and power project that
can provide low-cost drought and gro\N1:h needs for urban, rural, and environmental
stakeholders throughout Colorado's Gunnison, Colorado, South Platte, Arkansas] and Rio
Grande River Basins. During wet years, Unjon Park~s reversible pump-generators wiU fHI
Union Park from the Bureau of Reclamation's existing Taylor Park and Blue Mesa
Reservoirs~ These conserved flood waters wilJ then be availabre for flexibre gravity
distribution, when and where needed~ during the destructive and variable multi-year droughts.

The Bureau's unused 300,000 acre-feet AspinaJl Pool was authorized by Congress jn 1957
for subsequent purchase and development by Upper Gunnfson and Colorado stakehofders
for statew~de needs~ Union Park can store up to 1.2 million acre-feet of CoJorado's unused
and overlooked Aspinall Pool water rights. This storage wHI assure at least four years of
extremely valuable drought and grovvth insurance for both slopes. Colorado's currently
untapped Upper Gunnison Basin of origin would receive 240,000 acre-feet of free
compensatory storage to protect and enhance its irrigated farms and recreation economyp
The pumped-storage power costs to fill Union Park during row demand spring runoff months
will be off-set by the project's high value peaking power revenues from the Western power
grid during the high energy-consuming summerJ faU, and wjnter months.

Union Park is potentially the world's most productive water conservation and management
system. This pilot pumped-storage project for responsive, high quality, water and power
supplies throughout five major river basins is unJque throughout the West. Most traditional
Western river dams were built with maximum 2 to 1 benefit-cost expectations. Animas-La
Platta's current benefit-cost ratio is onJy about 1 to 1. Union Park}s multi-purpose capabilities
for five Southwestern river basins creates benefit-cost expectations in the 10 to 1 range.

Union Park's off~river storage site also avoids the serious environmental problems associated
with traditional Western river dams. When Union Parkts construction bonds (four phases
totaling about 2.5 bilHon doBars) are repajd, Colorado and Southwestern cities, farms} and
environments wiU have nearly free water and power supplies throughout the new millennium.

AfI Colorado stakehorders should immediately unite behind an emergency program to
develop Colorado's Union. Park and Gunnison water oversights for statewide drought and
growth needs.

Dave Miller Jhn.
Independent Water PJanner
P. O. Box 567J Parmer Lakej CO 80133
[phone], Fax [phone]