8a

• Board Meeting Date: 1/22/2008
• Description: CWCB Legislative Priorities and Recommendations - Chatfield Reservoir Reallocation Project
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Shennan Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
v..'V.V..T. C\vcb.state. co. us

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor

FROM:

Dan McAuliffe, Deputy Director
T om Browning, Section Chief

Hanis D. Shennan
DNR Executive Director

DATE:

January 14,2008

Jennifer L. Gimbel
CWCB Director

SUBJECT:

Agenda Item 8a, Janua..y 22-23, 2008 Boa..d Meeting
CWCB Legislative Priorities and Recommendations -
Chatfield Reservoir Reallocation Project

Dan McAuliffe
CWCB Deputy Director

Background
The CWCB has contracted with the Omaha District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps) to investigate the feasibility of reallocating existing storage space within Chatfield
Reservoir. We are currently in the process of completing a Feasibility Report/Environmental
Impact Statement (FR/EIS) for the Chatfield Reservoir Reallocation project (Project) and are
expecting the Corps to render a Record of Decision (ROD) during the spring/summer of 2009.

The fundamental scope of the Project is to look at the feasibility of converting flood control
storage space in Chatfield Reservoir, owned by the Corps, into joint-use water supply storage
space. The maximum volume for the reallocation analysis has been set at 20,600 acre-feet based
on a flood model that was approved by the Corps. Attachment A provides additional project
information.

Discussion

Staff proposes that a new statute that would authorize the CWCB to contract with the US Army
Corps to hold storage space in the reservoir; to contract with local entities who will utilize the
reservoir storage space; to loan money and receive money from entities to undertake mitigation,
operational and maintenance activities and hold such money in an agency fund until such time as
it is transferred to the US Army Corps of Engineers pursuant to a contract or agreement; and, to
undertake such action as is necessary, including the award of contracts to public and private
entities to undertake mitigation and construction related activities, to effectuate the storage of
water in the reservoir. Attachment B presents the proposed statutory language for this item.

Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board endorse the proposed statutory language within the 2008
Projects Bill, including the transfer of two million dollars from the CWCB Construction Fund to
a new Chatfield Reallocation Agency Fund, that would specifically authorize the CWCB to
implement the Chatfield Reservoir Reallocation project. Staff is further authorized to work with
various entities and the General Assembly to revise specific language as necessary.

Water' Supply P,'otection . Flood P,'otection . Stream & Lake Protection' Water" Supply Planning & Finance
'Vater Conse,'vation & Drought Planning' Int,'astate Water IVIanagement & Development