C150094 approval letter

• Contract/PO #: C150094
• Contractor Name: La Plata Water Conservancy District
• Contract Type: Grant
• Water District: 0
• County: La Plata
• Bill Number: HB02-1152
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Approval Letter

STATE CJF COLOIZf�DO
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 �herman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone:[phone]
FAX:(3�3)866-4474
www.cwcb.state.co.us M E M O R A N D U M
TO
FROM:
�_
SUBJECT:
�� " A °
(Updated Deeember 4, 2001. Revisions are �i� ���)
Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
John Van Sciver, P.E.
Mike Serlet, P.E., Chief
Water Supply Planning and Finance Section.
October 31, 2001
Agenda Item 24b., November 19-20, 2001 Board Meeting
La Plata Water Conservancy District (LPWCD)
Water Storage Facility Feasibility Study and Project Design
(La Plata River Water Management Program)
Long Hollow and Red Mesa Ward Reservoirs
.__ �
J /1
{� Y1
...:.�:�•
���: : '
��-_
Bill Owens
Govemor
Greg E. Walcher
Executive Diredor
Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director
Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director
Introduction
The La Plata Water Conservancy District has requested non-reimbursable funding in amount of
$444,645 to conduct a Feasibility Study to evaluate construction of the Long Hollow Reservoir
and enlargement of the Red Mesa Ward Reservoir. (Please see attached project description
and map.)
Backpround
The La Plata Water Conservancy District (LPWCD) is located in the western portion of La Plata
County and was formed in 1944 by the irrigators of the La Plata River Basin. Its original activities
were focused on the development of a reservoir in Long Hollow but the plans were delayed by the
onset of World War II and have not yet been completed. The organization does not currently have
any water supply facilities.
LPWCD, in cooperation with the Animas-La Plata Water Conservancy District (ALPWCD) and the
Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), developed a Water Management and Conservation Plan for
Western La Plata County that was adopted in August 2000. This was done because it has
become increasingly difficult for the water resources of the basin to meet the needs of existing
agriculture, growing residential development, and the demands of New Mexico under the La Plata
River Compact. Specifically, it is very difficult to manage water deliveries to New Mexico because
there is no regulating reservoir near the state line.
The work proposed is a feasibility study that will support construction of a reservoir on Long
Hollow. A reservoir at this site was determined to be the best way to improve administration of the
La Plata River, in accordance with the requirements of the La Plata River Compact. Enlargement
of the Red Mesa Reservoir is also proposed, to provide added storage in the upper basin.
Flood Protection • Water Project Planning and Financing • Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection . Conservation Planning