WSPP00139

• File Number: 8200.300.40.A
• Description: Colorado River Basin-Colorado River Basin Legislation/Law-Compacts-Colorado River Compact
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 2/1/1981
• Title: Colorado River Compact-Synopsis of Major Documents-Colorado Water-Key to Tomorrows Quality of Life
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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ROCKWELL

Location:
23 miles west of Fort Collins.

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Sponsor:
City of Fort Collins.

Primary Purpose of the Project:
Municipal water supply.

Secondary Benefits:
Recreation.

History and Background:

The proposed Rockwell Reservoir Project is located
approximately seven (7) miles upstream from the mouth of
the South Fork of the Cache la Poudre River. The site Is
partially on the Roosevelt National Forest, approximately
23 miles west of Fort Collins. During the 1920's, the Cities
of Fort Collins and Greeley purchased several parcels of
land known as the Rockwell Ranch. It was apparently
purchased with the idea of protecting the source of water
supply for the two cities In the future. Also owned in this
area are six (6) small ditches with a combined water right
of about 12 cubic feet per second. In 1951, a preliminary
survey was made for a possible dam across the South
Fork, just downstream from the mouth of Little Beaver
Creek. Several studies have been conducted during the
last two decades to determine the feasibility of the project.
Preliminary geologic Investigations indicate that the
height of the dam may be limited to about 120 feet (or 4,900
acre-feet of capacity) because of a lack of suitable
embankment materials. The project site is also In an area

where both wilderness and wild and scenic river
designations have been proposed. The City has made a
request to both the U.S. Forest Service and the con-
gressional delegation that the Rockwell project site be
excluded from the proposed designation.

Physical Facts and Figures:
Height, length and type of dam: Height 120 feet; Length
1,050 feet; Earth embankment
Storage capacity (A.F.) of reservoir: 4,900 acre-feet
Shoreline and surface area: Shoreline - 4.5 miles;
Surface Area - 140 acres
Average annual power generation: N/A
Population to be served: 20,000 (In addition to 80,000
now served by .Fort Collins)
Irrigated acres to be served: N/A
Estimated cost: $10,000,000 (1980)
Construction schedule:To be determined by conditions
Proposed Sources of Funding:
Sale of municipal bonds with repayment from Water Utility
revenues.

For Further Information Contact:

Roger E. Krempel; Director
Public Works and Water Utilities
P.O. Box 580, Ft. Collins, CO 80526
484-4220

SPINNEY MOUNTAIN

Location:

On. the Middle Fork of the South Platte, 10 miles east of
Harset and approximately 2.5 miles upstream from 11 Mi Ie
Canyon Reservoir.

Sponsor:
City of Aurora.

Primary Purpose of the Project:

Municipal water supply.

History and Background:

In 1974 a consulting firm completed an extensivefeaslbill-
ty study forthe City of Aurora. It estimated future water
needs, evaluated existing and potential water rights, and' .
came up wltn computer simulations of Aurora's raw water
system through the year 2000. The consulting firm
recommended that the City proceed with financing
additional subsurface explorations, design and build the
proposed Spinney Mountain Reservoir Project, with com-
pletion in December of 1976.

In July of 1974, the Aurora city council passed an
ordinance raising water rates and tap fees to pay for the

Spinney Mountain project. A citizens' group opposed the
ordinance. The matter went to triai court, the Court of
Appeals, and finally to the Colorado Supreme Court which
decided In favor of the City. That decision came in
December of 1977. But In the meantime, the City had
transferred money set aside for the design of Spinney
Mountain to other smaller projects.

A new design contract with the original consultants was
approved by council action In December 1977. In May of
1978, General Obligation Water bonds were issued to pay
for the construction.

The Corps of Engineers asked the City to apply for a
Section 404 permit which was done In February 1978. In
July of that year, the public notice of the request for the
permit was Issued. In September of 1978, the CorpS
Informed the City that an Environmental Impact Statement
would be required. The consultants completed an En-
vironmental Assessment Report (EAR) and geological
studies near the project In April of this year.

In October of 1979, the City submitted a Mitigation Pian
addressing each of the Items requested in meetings and
correspondence from State Game and Fish personnel,

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