Tri County 1996 WCPlan

• Project Type: Water Conservation Plan
• Project Name: Tri-County Water Conservancy District Water Conservation Plan
• Title: Water Conservation Plan
• Date: 11/5/1996
• County: Montrose
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Complete Plan

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WATER CONSERVATION PLAN
for the
TRI-COUNTY WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
MONTROSE, COLORADO

GENERAL :

The Tri-County Water Conservancy District was formed under
Colorado State Statute in the late 1950's. We are governed by a
15 member Board of Directors that are judicially appointed
according to state law. The District distributes domestic water
throughout the rural area of the Uncompahgre Valley and operates
and maintains Ridgway Dam for the Bureau of Reclamation
(Reclamation). Our mission is to provide dependable, quality
service for delivery of water to District customers and to
manage, operate, and maint'ain Ridgway ,Dam at the, most, economical
cost.

In July 1968, a bond election for the construction of the
domestic water system was held and approved. The original
distribution system was constructed valley wide in 1970 by
issuing $3.9 million in General Obligation (Limited Tax) and
Water Revenue Conservancy Bonds. The balance on this issue is
$2,060,000 and will be paid in full by April 2010.

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The District serves domestic water to more than 5,000 residential
and commercial taps. It incorporates approximately 525 miles of
pipeline, 16 storage tanks, 41 pump stations, and other
appurtenances. The District performs its own operation,
maintenance. and construction activity. The District does not
provide for wastewater treatment.

The District has committed to purchase raw water treatment of a
minimum of 183 million gallons (MG) of domestic water annually
from the project 7 Water Authority. Project 7 provides treatment
for most of the domestic water service in the Uncompahgre Valley.
The District incurred costs of $340,000 for 680 MG in 1994, and
$343,000 for 624 MG in 1995.

In December 1976, the voters in the District elected to proceed
with construction of the Ridgway Dam and entered into a repayment
contract with Reclamation for the construction of the Ridgway Dam
to deliver project water for irrigation, municipal, industrial,
and other uses. The District subsequently entered into
agreements and contracts with various entities to administer the
project and water issues. The District has implemented annual
rate increases of 5 cents per 1,000 gallons for the years 1986
through 1997 to accumulate a portion of the repayment and other
obligations of this repayment contract for Ridgway Dam.

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