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3.0 PROJECT BACKGROUND AND NEED <br />3.1. STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION <br />The District provides a municipal water supply for the town of Leadville and surrounding <br />developments in unincorporated areas of Lake County. The District is situated in an <br />alpine environment, generally at an elevation around 10,150 feet. The service area <br />boundary of the District encompasses approximately 4.3 square miles. The Canterbury <br />Tunnel is located in the Southeast Quarter of Section 12, of Township 9 South, Range <br />79 West of the 6 th P,M. in Lake County. The proposed project would provide a source of <br />water supply that would serve the entire district. Figure No. 1 provides a location map of <br />the project planning area and the District's service area. <br />3.2. PREVIOUS STUDIES <br />The District has commissioned two studies of the tunnel since 2003. In December 2003, <br />Wheeler provided the District with a Feasibility Study on addressing the problems related <br />to the deterioration of the Canterbury Tunnel water supply. Also in December 2003, the <br />District retained a professional surveyor to identify the approximate location of the <br />Canterbury Tunnel. Results of these investigations are incorporated into the current <br />design for the project. <br />3.3. PROJECT LANDS <br />The project lands generally exist outside of the DistricYs boundaries, in the alpine terrain <br />north and east of Leadville. The project alternatives are addressed in a following section <br />of the study and are shown in Figure Nos. 2 and 3, and will require that the District <br />acquire easements for structures such as pipelines, pump stations, power lines, water <br />treatment facilities, and access roads. The lands are generally privately owned, located <br />in rural areas, and zoned for industrial or mining uses. The overall expected <br />environmental impact of the alternatives is expected to be minimal. <br />3.4. WATER DEMANDS <br />Based on a review of total raw water diversion records from 1993 through 2003, the <br />District's annual demand is approximately 1,400 acre-feet. On a monthly basis from <br />_J W. W. Ulheeler and Assoctctes,lne. 5/19/2010 Final <br />— 1 U1ot¢r Resources Enginears Page 7 <br />