Southeastern Colorado Water Activity Enterprise Minutes May 20 2004

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SECWCD May 20, 2004 3 RECORD OF PROCEEDING Mr. Wine said preliminary runs of the III Model, using conservative assumptions for the period 1997 through 2003 have indicated significant depletions to usable stateline flow, even though over the shorter period 1997 -1999 the Model indicated a net accretion to usable stateline flow. For this reason additional analysis are being conducted so that by June I a determination can be made as to whether it will be necessary to reduce pumping or require additional replacement water to prevent depletions to usable stateline flow. Mr. Witte said using values for potential evapo- transpiration calculated using the Penman - Monteith method shows net depletions of over 11,000 at, however using lower values, such as might be produced using the Blaney - Criddle methodology reduces that figure by 10,000 a.f. This indicates that efforts being undertaken to support adjustments to Penman - Monteith that is believed to be appropriate... such as CSU's investigation of the effects of salinity, the installation of weighing lysimeters at the Rocky Ford Research Station, reconfiguration of the COAGMEet stations made possible through funding from CWCB are so vitally important. Mr. Witte said perhaps equally important might be corroboration of these findings using a new technique for evaluation of PET using satellite imagery, known as SEBAL. W. Witte said he would like to met with District staff to have an opportunity to explain this more thoroughly and perhaps interest the District in providing financial support in this area. Mr. Witte reported on personnel issues, the following positions will be held by the following: • Joe Flory River Operations Coordinator • Dave Kelly Water District 11 Deputy • Jeff Montoya Water District 19 Deputy • Mike Reed Water District 12 Deputy • Steve Trexel Water District 13 Deputy FRY -ARK PROJECT REPORT: Mr. Musgrove reported as of May 18, there was 107,062 acre -feet of water stored in Pueblo Reservoir. 71,126 acre -feet of Project water, 14,606 acre -feet of water stored in If & When space, and 21,176 acre -feet of Winter water. Reclamation currently has 185,823 acre -feet of Project space in Pueblo Reservoir, and 49,092 acre -feet of Project space in Turquoise and Twin Lakes Reservoirs. Mr. Musgrove said Boustead Tunnel peaked at 664 cfs on May 19 and was at 500 cfs on May 20. To date Reclamation has diverted just over 7,800 acre -feet of water this year. Brian Person reported on the following: Pueblo Hydroelectric PoweMlant Update The Western States Power Corporation contracted with Reclamation's Technical Service Center (TSC) to fund a Feasibility Study of adding a hydroelectric powerplant to Pueblo Dam. The first phase of the study included an analysis of the flow regime through the dam to determine if the quantity and consistency of flows would support power generation. It was concluded that the flow regime will support power development. The next phase consisted of a Safety of Dams analysis of any adverse impacts associated with the construction and operation of a powerplant. A structural analysis was made of connecting a round penstock to the 4 -foot by 4 -foot river outlet gate within buttress 16. While it was determined that there are no structural concerns with attaching a 4-foot diameter penstock, it was determined that a larger, 6 -foot diameter penstock could not be attached without making unacceptable modifications to the buttress. The Safety of Dams analysis also included the slight reduction in reservoir evacuation ability that would be caused by attaching a plant to the outlet. The reduction will likely be acceptable, but will require formal documentation. With limits imposed on the excavation depths and methodologies, construction of the plant adjacent to the river outlet would pose no Safety ofDams concerns.