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replaced. Records show that 139 of these units were purchased and installed. These DCPs are
<br /> approaching their useful life of 10 years and are scheduled for replacement because of age. A number of
<br /> these early high data rate DCPs have failed and have already been replaced.
<br /> Useful DCP life is sometimes shorter in the humid and/or harsh cold environments in which the equipment is
<br /> housed. In order to continue using the present system to collect and transmit basic stream flow and water
<br /> body elevation data, DWR projects that electronic equipment will be replaced, on average, every 10 years.
<br /> DWR owns about 460 total sets of electronic (DCP and stage sensor)equipment out of the 500+ gages it
<br /> operates. With an average life of 10 years, we project 45 replacements per year. At current equipment
<br /> costs, the cost of DCP replacement with newest generation GOES transceivers, as well as replacement of
<br /> gage height sensors ranges from $3750 to $6000 per gage, depending on the type of gage height sensor
<br /> needed (shaft encoder, constant flow bubbler or radar sensor). Total annual projected equipment costs are
<br /> $195,000. The life of antennas, batteries, solar panels, wiring, and grounding equipment varies
<br /> considerably. We currently project an average annual expense of this equipment is approximately$25,000.
<br /> Travel (vehicle mileage, per diem, etc.) and overtime support for the DWR Electronics Specialist IV to
<br /> perform this work around the State is projected at $25,000. Total annual cost (at current prices) is
<br /> $245,000.
<br /> Refurbishment of Existing Stream Gages. DWR requests $55,000 for refurbishing existing stream gages in
<br /> FY2012-13. Approximately 60% of Colorado's satellite-linked gaging stations are located in the rivers and
<br /> streams of the state. The others are located in reservoirs, ditches, and canals. Gaging station physical
<br /> infrastructure (shelters, stream controls, independent reference gages, etc.) must be properly maintained
<br /> and periodically refurbished in order to collect data of quality and high accuracy.
<br /> An important physical component of many DWR stream gages around the State is the ability to measure
<br /> high flows so that the upper end of stage-discharge relationships can be improved and maintained to yield
<br /> accurate high/flood flow data. High flow measurement capability varies from gage to gage. High flows at
<br /> stream gages are measured from cableways near the gage or from nearby up-or downstream bridges.
<br /> Cableways at DWR stream gages are given a detailed inspection each four years. Many cableways,
<br /> primarily because of age, have been found to need replacement of key components of the cableway system.
<br /> High flow measurement sustainability projects address such identified cableway design/safe use issues.
<br /> These may include replacement of cable, improvements to the cable anchorage system, replacement of A-
<br /> frame components, replacement of cable cars, etc. Costs can run from as little as $1000 per cableway to as
<br /> much as $20,000 per cableway, depending on what components need replacement before a cableway can
<br /> be returned to safe service. Alternatively, existing cableways found to have design or safe use deficiencies
<br /> are, under certain site conditions, being replaced with bank-operated cableways. Costs of installing bank-
<br /> operated cableways range from $6000 to $9000 per site. As current funding allows, we have been slowly
<br /> addressing some of these needs. However, several larger manned cableway improvement projects need to
<br /> be accomplished. DWR anticipates annual funding for cableway improvements of$70,000 to $80,000
<br /> per year, until critical needs are addressed. Such improvements would be expected to be
<br /> accomplished in 4-5 years.
<br /> FY10-11 Accomplishments
<br /> The CWCB provided $300,000 in FY2010-11 for satellite telemetry equipment upgrade and replacement and
<br /> stream gage refurbishment.
<br /> Satellite Telemetry Upgrade Program. Of the funds allocated, $245,000 were expended on the procurement
<br /> and installation of new generation, high data rate, satellite-linked monitoring equipment and associated
<br /> components. As discussed earlier, high data rate DCP upgrades have been completed at all DWR gage
<br /> stations. The focus in FY11 was to begin replacing the earliest high data rate DCPs that were installed in
<br /> 2001 and 2002, i.e., replace older 8210 and Satlink 1 DCPs with new Satlink2 DCPs. A total of 35 DCPs
<br /> were upgraded.
<br /> Streamgage Refurbishment. An allocation of$55,000 along with carryover funds from the previous fiscal
<br /> year were used on refurbishment of existing stream gages throughout the State. Refurbishment projects
<br /> were completed at the following stream gages in FY 2010-11 (see actual cost column, Table 1). The
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