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f DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OMAHA DISTRICT 106 SOUTH 15TH STREET OMAHA, NEBRASKA 68102.1618 REPLY TO: District Engineer U~2a~~ Mr. Rod Kuharich, Director Colorado Water Conservation Board Department of Natural Resources 1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 Denver, Colorado 80203 Dear Mr. Kuharich: We have reviewed your December 12,2002, request regarding the ratification of the approval action of the drawdown of Chatfield Reservoir during "severe and prolonged drought conditions." Our office has conducted an in-house drought assessment of the South Platte River basin, and our determination is that this basin is experiencing severe and protracted drought conditions. However, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEP A), prior to approving the drawdown, the Corps must evaluate the environmental impacts of allowing the drawdown of Chatfield Reservoir below elevation 5423.0 feet above msl. Therefore, the final decision concerning approval of the drawdown cannot be made until after the completion of an Environmental Assessment (EA). The Corps is currently working with Denver Water regarding preparation of an EA for installation of a water supply pump station and pipeline at Chatfield Reservoir and drawdown of the Chatfield Reservoir pool. The EA will address the consequences of a Chatfield Reservoir drawdown and examine the consequences for a brief versus an extended drought after the initial drawdown. The current schedule for the EA calls for it to be completed in draft form at the end of March 2003, with an estimated completion of the final EA in May 2003. Once the EA is completed, the Corps will make its determination regarding approval of the drawdown of Chatfield Reservoir below elevation 5423.0 feet above msl.