Laserfiche WebLink
Testimony of Marc Waage <br />Manager of Raw Water Supply <br />Denver Water Department <br />Concerning <br />Application for Water Rights of the Town of Silverthorne <br />Blue River Whitewater Course <br />Case Number 04CW217 <br />My name is Marc Waage. I swear to tell the truth. I am the Manager of Raw Water <br />Supply for the Denver Water Department ("Denver Water"). I have held that position since 1988 <br />and have worked for Denver Water since 1986. I am a Register Professional Engineer <br />(Colorado License No.27083). I have a Bachelor and Master of Science (Water Resources <br />Program) in civil engineering from Colorado State University. My duties and responsibilities <br />include the management of Denver Water's raw water operations. I am familiar with Denver <br />Water's water rights and diversions of water under those water rights, and the operation of Dillon <br />Reservoir under the Blue River Decree. I am also familiar the water rights of Green Mountain <br />Reservoir and power plant, and the controlling mainstem water rights on the Colorado below the <br />confluence of the Blue River. I am also familiar with the application filed by Silverthorne in <br />Case No. 2004CW217. <br />I have reviewed the written testimony prepared by Mark T. Richards and Leo Eisel <br />submitted by the Town of Silverthorne. I have the following comments to their testimony: <br />l. Mr. Richards and'Mr. Eisel make the statement that the "period (May-September) <br />and times (7:00 a.m. - 8 p.m. requested [in the application filed in Case No. 2004CW217] will <br />minimize the impact on exchanges upstream of Dillon Reservoir. Exchanges can be made <br />during the winter months or during the nighttime hours in the summer without any effect from <br />the Silverthorne RICD." <br />There is very little exchange potential during the winter months because of the lower <br />stream flows. The minimum release requirement for Dillon Reservoir (usually 50 cfs) also limits <br />the exchange potential (DWD Exhibit 8). An exchange depends upon the availability of physical <br />flow above the point of diversion or storage. So the exchange is limited to times when there is <br />sufficient physical supply to operate the exchange. The optimal months to operate an exchange <br />into Dillon Reservoir or the Roberts Tunnel are July, August, September and October when <br />Dillon Reservoir is out-of-priority. <br />I am not aware of the State Engineer allowing nighttime only exchanges. There are a <br />number of potential problems that I am concerned about and that would seem to make nighttime <br />exchanges imprac±ical and unlikely to be allowed. <br />• It is impractical for reservoir operators to make multiple nighttime outlet gate <br />changes at Dillon Reservoir (diversion point) and Williams Fork Reservoir