C150261 Feasibility Study - Laserfiche WebLink

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CWCB Construction Fund Loan Application Purpose: The purpose of the Dry Gulch Reservoir Project is to provide adequate water for the health and welfare of both Districts' constituents due to unprecedented growth. Archuleta County is the third fastest growing county in Colorado. The 2005 population of the SJWCD and PAWSD service areas was approximately 9,500 full-time residents, up from about 7,500 in 2000. The annual growth rate was over 7% prior to 2002 and approximately 5% after 2002. Need: The current water storage capacity available to PAWSD is 2,900 acre-feet (AF). Studies indicate that at least an additional 12,000 AF of storage capacity and additional diversion capacity is required by the year 2040 to meet the water needs of area residents within PAWSD and SJWCD. Both diversion and storage capacity will be provided by the Dry Gulch Project. Because the lead-time to construct a new reservoir is typically 20 years or more, purchase of the land and work to construct a new reservoir must begin immediately in order to have a reservoir constructed when needed. After more than 20 years of study and planning, the imminent need for the development of Dry Gulch Reservoir has arrived. This Loan Application is for funds to purchase the private land necessary to construct the reservoir and diversion structures and to conduct pre- construction studies. Land currently owned by the U.S. Forest Service will also be used, either by fee acquisition or permitted use, but the method for acquiring the right to use that land is still being determined. The project was included in SWSI. Facilities: The Dry Gulch Reservoir will be an off-stream facility capable of up to approximately 35,000 AF of storage, planned to be filled by a pump and pipeline from the San Juan River. Type of water uses to be served: Water uses to be served by the Dry Gulch Reservoir Project include all municipal uses including the predominant uses for residential, commercial, [limited] industrial, irrigation, wildland fire protection and multiple recreational uses. In addition to providing water needs for the PAWSD and SJWCD constituents, the Dry Gulch Reservoir Project will provide water for wildland fire protection and recreational use that benefits all residents of the Town of Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County. Service Area: The PAWSD and SJWCD encompass a significant portion of Archuleta County, including the Town of Pagosa Springs. PAWSD serves about 75 percent of the population of Archuleta County, including mixed residential and commercial development within the Town of Pagosa Springs, the Fairfield Resort and Development, corridors extending southeast along US Highway 84 and northeast along US Highway 160, and other areas that have been included within PAWSD boundaries. The SJWCD service area includes approximately 100 square-miles of the 1,365 square-miles of Archuleta County, which utilize the majority (approximately 95 percent) of the current municipal and industrial water demand within the County. 3