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Long Hollow Dam and Reservoir Phase I Summary Report <br /> protected without jeopardizing LHR purposes. USEPA acceptance of 404 Permit <br /> conditions will be critical. <br /> 3. Based on a water allocation model that simulated water supply and distribution for the <br /> 14-year study period, there is adequate water available in-priority for storage in LHR to <br /> meet the purposes of the project. On average, an estimated 3,540 AF/yr can be stored in <br /> LHR to help meet Compact demands at the State Line gauge, while allowing Colorado <br /> ditches to divert supplemental irrigation water by exchange. Average annual depletions <br /> for the LHR project are estimated to be 1,470 AF/yr. An LHR operations study (WWE, <br /> March 2004) indicates that both Colorado and New Mexico irrigators will benefit from <br /> LHR and that Colorado's ability to meet its Compact delivery obligation will be <br /> improved, especially during split river administration conditions. <br /> 4. The LHR project appears to be financially feasible if the $15 million (now $16 million) <br /> escrowed for La Plata River irrigation projects under the Authority's Future Projects <br /> Escrow Agreement is allocated to the project. WWE's project reconnaissance-level (+/- <br /> 50%) opinion of cost for LHR is $19.6 million. No detailed engineering or geotechnical <br /> data were available in the development of this opinion of cost. A significant portion (66 <br /> percent) of the capital cost in the opinion of cost is related to the rate and volume of the <br /> design inflow flood. After completion of the Phase II feasibility study, the precision of <br /> the opinion of cost will be approximately +/-25%. A water user fee will pay for LHR <br /> OM&R expenses for the 2,730 AF/yr of incremental diversions. The fee will generate <br /> approximately$41,000 per year. <br /> As an alternative to the currently proposed LHR, the size of the reservoir could be <br /> reduced somewhat to fit available funding, if necessary, and still satisfy its intended <br /> purposes. Although the amount of water available for exchange would be less, the 300 <br /> AF Compact Reserve Pool would still help to meet Colorado's Compact delivery <br /> obligations during split river administration conditions. <br /> 991-077.115 Wright Water Engineers, Inc. Page 22 <br /> July 2004 <br />