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

The 1996 comprehensive plan recommended limitations on residential densities for future
development within the Town's incorporated limits and within the Town's water service
area outside of the Town's boundaries. The 1996 plan identified buildout at 3,400
residents within the Town and an additional 3,000 residents outside of the Town, but
within the Town's water service area.

~""..\~-~'^-}-

2.2.2 Reconnaissance Assessment of Paonia's Raw Water Supply

In November of 1994, the CWCB approved a Construction Fund loan to the Town of
Paonia for a new reservoir. The loan was authorized as part ofHB95-1155 for $600,000
at 4.0 percent interest over 30 years. One of the conditions of the loan approval was that
the Town complete a feasibility study for the project.

In 1995, Consolidated Consulting Services (CCS) completed a reconnaissance
assessment report to identify and evaluate alternatives to increase the Town's raw water
supply [CCS, 1995]. The CCS report evaluated several options that included:

1. Doing nothing;
2. Increasing raw water storage;
3. Purchasing storage from others;
4. Purchasing water rights from others;
5. Purchasing water from Project 7; and
6. Pursuing more aggressive water conservation measures.

The reconnaissance study did not result in a definitive conclusion or identification of a
preferred alternative to meet the Town's future water supply challenge, but several good
ideas were developed through the study. The draft report was reviewed by the CWCB,
but did not meet the requirements of the CWCB Construction Fund Guidelines.

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2.2.3 Initial Raw Water Supply Study

In 1994, Minion Hydrologic performed an initial raw water supply study for the Town
ofPaonia. The study included preliminary review and analysis ofPaonia's water rights
and distribution system, existing spring diversion data, and Town-supplied water use
records. The appendices of that report compile the relevant state diversion records,
reservoir storage reports, water diversion reports, and the SEO Water Rights Alpha list.
In addition, the report included discussions concerning the raw water supply system with
John Norris, the Town Manager, and Merritt Denison, the District 40 Water
Commissioner. The report recommended that the Town perform additional water rights
evaluations, collect more data, and consider pursuing additional storage sites and drilling
a well to provide an alternate point of diversion.

~ GEl Consultants, Inc.

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