PROJC02274 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ELKHEAD RESERVOIR ENLARGEMENT COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD FEASIBILITY REPORT Prepared By: COLORADO RIVER WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT September, 2003 INTRODUCTION The Colorado River Water Conservation District (River District), in conjunction with the Upper Colorado Endangered Fishes Recovery Program (Recovery Program) propose to enlarge Elkhead Reservoir, northwest of Craig, Colorado for purposes of supporting the recovery of endangered fish species and to satisfy needs for supplies of municipal, industrial and agricultural water in the Yampa River Basin. Financially, the River District will be responsible for a pro rata share of costs associated with the human water supply created in the enlargement. The Recovery Program is responsible for the share of costs for the endangered fish pool. Elkhead Reservoir currently has a capacity of 13,000 acre-feet (af) and will be enlarged by approximately 12,000 af, 7,000 of of which will be the human pool and 5,000 of of which will be the endangered fish pool. Therefore, the River District is responsible for 7/12ths, or 58 percent of project cost and the Recovery Program is responsible for 5/12ths, or 42 percent. The current total cost estimate for the expansion is $19.SMM. The River District intends to finance its share of the project using a loan from the Colorado Water Conservation Board's (CWCB) Construction Fund. A portion of the Recovery Program share, in the amount of $2MM, will also be financed through the CWCB construction fund. The balance of the Recovery Program share will be cash funded. The River District is acting as project manager and agent on behalf of the Recovery Program in pursuit of the enlargement. This report is prepared to satisfy the CWCB's requirements of a demonstration of financial and technical feasibility in support of the loan application.