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<br />"j <br />,'1 <br />~ <br />e <br /> <br />tit <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Canon City has no storage rights. They are totally dependant on their direct flow rights. Should <br />the Arkansas River suffer some contamination, or should the Canon City rights be called, they <br />have only one or two days of storage. The City of Florence has briefed the Canon City council <br />on August 10, 2004 that some Florence-Coal Creek-Williamsburg storage might be available for <br />lease by Canon City in return for economic contribution towards the reservoir's cost. Canon <br />City indicated some interest at this initial proposal. <br /> <br />Further, should the Feasibility Study indicate that this project can proceed, the Federal <br />Government may well participate, given their duty to insure adequate water supplies for the <br />Federal Correctional Complex. Congressman Hefley has already acquired an appropriation to <br />the Corps of Engineers of $150,000 in last year's budget for this project. We believe that <br />continued support of this project by the Federal Government is very likely, given the expansion <br />planned for the "Super Max" institution at the Federal Correctional Complex. However until the <br />Feasibility Study is complete, such appropriations by the Federal Government are premature. <br /> <br />The ability of Florence, Coal Creek, Williamsburg and Rockvale to fund this reservoir project on <br />their own will mean a substantial increase in debt for our citizens. Yet all entities understand the <br />need for storage, recognize that recreational and esoteric benefits accrue from a reservoir, and the <br />citizens of west Florence will no longer be required to purchase FEMA flood insurance, at an <br />annual cost of approximately $900 yearly. <br /> <br />It is hard to envision a water project that would truly be a matter of statewide interest, given the <br />different basins in the state. Insofar as the Arkansas River is severely over-appropriated, any <br />storage on this basin would significantly benefit all basin residents. The project area potentially <br />benefits a wide range of people, from Canon City to Pueblo West, a Federal Correctional <br />Complex, and a relatively large geographical area. <br /> <br />Funding this grant request in the amount of $200,000 would insure the Feasibility Study can be <br />completed, determine the likelihood of the reservoir itself, benefit a large population in an <br />admittedly rural area, and be a great use of these dollars towards a storage facility and flood <br />control facility which could benefit all residents in the Arkansas River basin. <br />