BOARD00143

• Board Meeting Date: 11/25/2002
• Description: CF Section - En-Bloc Non-Reimbursable Investment Recommendations CWCB/Division of Water Resources Satellite Monitoring System
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

. OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER
Division of Water Resources
Department of Natural Resources

1313 Sherman Street, Room 818
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone [phone]
FAX [phone]
www.water.state.Co.U5

August 21,2002

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor
Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director
Hal D. Simpson, P.E.
State Engineer

To: Rod Kuharich, Director of Colorado Water Conservation Division

Cc: Jack Byers, Dave Dzurovchin, Mike Serlet, Jeff Saesslerand Dan McAuliffe

From: Hal Simpson, State Engineer ;t;.k

RE: Division of Water Resources Satellite-linked MOl1itoring System

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The Colorado Division of Water Resources requests $303,000 from the CWCB Construction fund for FY04.
The funds are for continued, long-term operational viability of the over 300 satellite-linked water monitoring
sites, renovation of existing gaging stations, replacement of out-dated data collection platforms and
upgrading transmission components. In addition, many existing gaging stations need to be modified to
provide critical stream flow data for flood warning and low flow monitoring. The specific distribution of the
funds requested Is as follows:

1. 248,000 for replacement of 35 out-dated Data Collection Platforms and associated Satellite
Telemetry Equipment and upgrading satellite transmission components. This request is the third
phase of a continuing replacement program.

2. 55,000 for refurbishing existing stream gages as needed to maintain operational reliability of stream
flow data. This request is anticipated to be an annual cost due to deterioration and projected life
expectancy-ofttTe-physical<lTld-mechanicaJaspects-oHllestreamgages. --~--------- - -

Introduction

The Division of Water Resources and CWCB consistent with Section 37-60-121 and Section 37-80-102
C.R.S., continue to improve the utility of the stream-gaging program to support multi-agency and water
user needs such as flood forecasting and warning, water rights administration, compact protection, and
Decision Support System implementation and use. DWR must maintain the electronics in satellite-linked
data collection stations, refurbish the station structure and non-electronic hardware for stations that are
deteriorating, harden certain key stations against flood events so that we can continue to collect critical,
real-time stream flow data in times of fiood, and continue, as necessary, the operation of vital gages which
are currently operated by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). This is part of a continuing annual
request for funds to support this program.

Backoround

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The CWCS provided $298,000 in FY03 for telemetry replacement, and stream gage refurbishment. The
CWCS provided $398,000 in FY02 which was used to replace 60 sets of satellite-linked monitoring
equipment in the South Platte and Arkansas River basins. A short list of 40 sites developed through
coordination with the USGS, CWCS, NWS and DWR staff is being used to select the critical streamgaging
sites to flood harden. $100,000 is being used for this effort. The balance of $50,000 is being used to