ALP 4

STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1580 Logan Street, Suite 600
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us
December 12, 2012
Ed Warner, Area Manager
Western Regional Area Office
Bureau of Reclamation
2764 Compass Drive, Suite 106
Grand Junction, Colorado 81506
Re: City of Durango's Potential Annexation of Lake Nighthorse
Dear Mr. Warner:
John W. Hickenlooper
Governor
Mike King
DNR Executive Director
Jennifer L. Gimbel
CWCB Director
This letter shall serve as a joint response between the Colorado Water Conservation Board
(CWCB) and the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority ( CWRPDA) on
the potential annexation of Lake Nighthorse by the City of Durango (City).
The CWCB and CWRPDA would like to make it very clear that we are fully supportive of
seeing the long term development of recreation on Lake Nighthorse. It is our opinion that a well
planned and managed recreation plan will not only provide an economic and recreation amenity
to the area, but it will also develop a partnership between the water provider and water user, that
is critical to the long term operation, maintenance, and overall real and perceived success of the
Proj ect.
The City is currently in negotiations to purchase 1,900 acre feet (depletions) of CWRPDA's
project water allocation, which will give them a vested interest in the Project from a water owner
perspective. It is our opinion that having the City involved from a recreation and project water
owner perspective will provide an important link between the two and can only assist in
developing a long term relationship between project owner and recreation manager.
That being said, the CWCB and CWRPDA acknowledge that there are a number of issues that
needs to be discussed and resolved prior to annexation. Below is a summary of our comments
or concerns that we would suggest be addressed during the development of an Annexation
Agreement between the City and the Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau).
• We would recommend that all existing facilities, their expansion, or the construction of
new facilities associated with current or new Association Members, and the overall
operations and maintenance of those facilities, not be subject to City permitting, building
Interstate Compact Compliance • Watershed Protection • Flood Planning & Mitigation • Stream & Lake Protection
Water Project Loans & Grants • Water Modeling • Conservation & Drought Planning • Water Supply Planning