PROJ01959 ‎(2)‎

• Contract/PO #: C150131A
• Contractor Name: Paonia, Town of
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 0
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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Feasibility Report for Improvement of Paonia's Water Supply System
Town of Paonia
April 21, 2000

2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

2.1 General

The Town of Paonia's water supply is intimately linked to the local geology. Bedrock in the
vicinity of the Town ofPaonia is formed mainly by the sedimentary Mancos shale formation.
Landsend Peak and Mount Lamborn are located southeast of the Town and are formed by
igneous rock intrusions that pierced through the Mancos shale. Deterioration of the igneous rock
peaks throughout time have resulted in numerous talus deposits along the northern slopes of
these peaks. Numerous springs were formed where the permeable, deteriorated ignt:ous rock
overlies the much more impervious Mancos shale. These springs provide high quality water
supplies for the Town ofPaonia and are fed by snowmelt from the peaks above the springs.

The Town ofPaonia was incorporated as a municipality in the State of Colorado in 1902 (CCS,
1995). In 1905, the Town borrowed about $50,000 to install small raw water trarlsmission
pipelines from the springs on Lamborn Mesa into town. Since that time, the Town has continued
to develop additional springs and install pipelines to increase the capacity of its raw water
system. In 1992, the Town purchased the Todd Reservoir to provide storage as an important part
of their water supply system.

The system provided a reliable, high quality source of water to the Town until 1988. During the
drier years of 1988 and 1989, the Town had a difficult time supplying water to its citizens and
nearly depleted the drinking water stored in its treated water storage tanks during hotter days in
1989.

2.2 Previous Paonia Studies

During the 1990s, the Town commissioned several studies to proactively address the pressures
of growth and the resulting impacts on the Town's water supply system. A summary of some
of the key studies completed in the last decade is provided below.

2.2.1 Town of Paonia Comprehensive Plan

In 1996, the consulting team of Leland Consulting Group, PBS&J, and Gorsuch Kirgis
teamed to update the Town of Paonia's 1985 Comprehensive Plan and Zoning
Regulations. The Paonia Comprehensive Plan was developed for Town officials and staff
to use in making recommendations and decisions on specific land use and development
proposals. The purpose of the plan is to set a course of action for addressing the
pressures of future growth and development in the area, while maintaining the existing
"rural agricultural setting."

I: \PROJECTSI99368\ReportsIFeasibility. wpd

<I> GEl Consultants, Inc.

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