Withdrawal of NECO's Statement and Summary Description of Central CO Project

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LarlZer Drought Protection Reservoir During 1986, NECO proposed an enlarged Union Park Reservoir for development by the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority (CWRPDA), as a statewide drought protection capability. However, in lieu purchasing and developing this innovative concept, the Authority elected to study Union Park, as well as three other Upper Gunnison trans -basin storage alternatives. Unfortunately, this major Upper Gunnison study was abruptly terminated in 1989 for unexplained institutional reasons, after it was half completed. As a result, the Bureau of Reclamation withdrew one million dollars from its FY 1990 budget that would have helped Colorado evaluate its overlooked high altitude drought protection options. Alternative to Two Forks NECO also offered its larger Union Park Reservoir and Central Colorado Project high storage proposal to Denver in 1986, as a superior alternative to Two Forks Dam. In fact, the Corps of Engineers' environmental studies confirmed that an average 60,000 acre -feet from Union Park storage could synergistically increase the safe annual yield of Denver's existing reservoir system by 111,000 acre -feet. CCP's unprecedented additional benefits for multiple river basins throughout both sides of the Divide were never quantified. EPA subsequently vetoed Two Forks, because "superior alternatives (i.e. CCP) were improperly screened from the studies in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) ". Purchase by Arapahoe County Arapahoe County purchased all of NECO's Union Park and Central Colorado Project development rights in 1988 for 2.2 million dollars. Arapahoe envisioned CCP primarily as a renewable water supply alternative for its users and providers that are mining non - renewable aquifers with wells. There was no attempt to promote and develop CCP's full potential as a multi - purpose drought protection project for both sides of the Divide. Available Water Rights for CCP When Congress authorized construction of the Bureau's Upper Gunnison Aspinall Storage Unit in 1957, its primary purpose was to help Colorado develop and use 300,000 acre -feet (about 30 %) of its unused legal share of the Colorado River. Although 240,000 acre -feet of these rights are still available from the Bureau for purchase, development, and beneficial consumptive uses throughout Colorado, Arapahoe County elected to seek additional trans -basin water rights in Gunnison Water Court. After 12 years of litigation, Colorado's Supreme Court ruled that Arapahoe's application duplicated the unused Colorado water development rights that have been available for purchase from the Bureau since 1957. At a recent Gunnison statewide water conference, Justice Gregory Hobbs confirmed that the Supreme Court's Arapahoe ruling was a major clarifying victory for development of Colorado's high storage potential. CCP's Phase I Development A 195 page WRC Engineering Report confirmed in 1989 that CCP's proposed Phase I development is a highly competitive water supply and drought protection alternative for Colorado's current and future needs. The project has many advantages, and no technical, environmental, or economic flaws. Phase I