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Ms. Maryanne C. Bach <br />12/28/2001 <br />Page 5 <br />Downstream Storage. Also as part of the System Refinement portion of the near -term <br />supply strategy, Denver is developing storage on the South Platte River downstream of <br />Denver to enhance the yield of its municipal water system. This storage would recapture <br />and regulate Denver's reusable return flow presently unusable due to the lack of timely <br />upstream exchange potential or demand. The stored returns would be released to the <br />river when upstream exchange potential exists. Additionally, downstream storage will be <br />used to augment the Water Recycling Project when there is legally insufficient reusable <br />return flow available to the plant. <br />Denver Water and the South Adams County Water and Sanitation District have jointly <br />acquired downstream storage sites, which are principally mined gravel pits. To date, <br />seven sites have been acquired representing potential storage of about 18,500 acre -feet. <br />Downstream storage is also the cornerstone of the above - mentioned commitment to <br />provide recycled water to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal and other customers of the <br />Recycling Project. In June 2001 a water carriage agreement was secured from the Fulton <br />Ditch Irrigating Company in which up to 150 cfs would be delivered through the Fulton <br />Ditch to five of the seven gravel pit reservoirs. Also, as mentioned above, Denver Water is <br />preparing applications to the Water Court for water rights to provide for South Platte <br />diversions to the gravel pits, for their use in river exchanges not already decreed, and <br />augmenting the Water Recycling Project. <br />Park Conversions. Within the system refinement category of Denver Water's near term <br />supply strategy is the conversion of parks and open spaces currently irrigated with <br />treated water to nonpotable water supplies. Reusable return flow, which would be <br />mainly those from the Colorado River, can be used to replace existing treated water <br />demands at those areas that are feasible conversion candidates. <br />In 1997, Denver Water entered into an agreement with the Denver Parks and Recreation <br />Department (Parks) for the purpose of providing incentive payments to Parks for <br />converting irrigated areas from treated water to raw water sources. Under the agreement, <br />Denver Water will pay Parks $1,000 for every acre -foot of treated water saved and <br />replaced with a raw water supply paid for by Parks. To the extent Denver Water's <br />reusable return flows are used as a source of replacement water for these projects, <br />successive use of Colorado River water is increased. <br />As part of previously completed raw water irrigation projects, Denver Water continues to <br />pursue water rights on Cherry Creek within the City and County of Denver to irrigate <br />three areas along the creek with raw water provided by alluvial wells. Junior water rights <br />and plans for augmentation to cover out -of- priority depletions from the wells are being <br />sought in Case Nos. 89CW198, 93CW033, and 93CW110, Water Division 1. Reusable <br />return flows will be the replacement water for these wells. Replacement of depletions <br />with reusable water currently takes place under annually renewed temporary substitute <br />supply plans on file with the State Engineer's Office. <br />