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<br />in the water) and maintain it at that level through continuation ofthe drought, making up <br />evaporative losses; or (2) Denver Water would adjust its operations so that Chatfield's elevation <br />would only decline by natural evaporative losses. <br /> <br />Stage 3 restrictions prohibit lawn watering and will have serious consequences for the quality of <br />life in our service area. If Stage 3 restrictions are imposed during the summer, then recreation at <br />Chatfield would also be affected. Despite these serious use restrictions, Denver Water would <br />maintain the 5423 level, making up evaporative losses, until after the Fourth of July. Until Labor <br />Day, the level would be maintained at 5419, which allows one boat ramp to remain in the water. <br />After Labor Day, Denver Water would operate the pumps as necessary to take Chatfield water <br />into its water treatment system. <br /> <br />Stage 2 restrictions <br /> <br />Through July 4th <br />Through Labor Day <br />After Labor Day <br /> <br />5426 <br />5423 <br />5419 <br /> <br />or <br />Evap. losses <br /> <br />Stage 3 restrictions <br /> <br />Through July 4th <br />Through Labor Day <br />After Labor Day <br /> <br />5423 <br />5419 <br />Below 5419 <br /> <br />It is important to note that Denver Water has a natural incentive not to use Chatfield water unless <br />necessity dictates. The water in Chatfield is of poor quality and must be pumped to Marston <br />treatment plant. However, when faced with a serious drought situation, these quality and cost <br />concerns become less important than the need for supply. <br /> <br />6. Denver Water's Refill Proposal <br /> <br />Once Chatfield goes below 5423, the question becomes how it would be refilled. State Parks <br />would like it to be refilled before the next recreation season. However, that simply is not <br />practical or reasonable. Despite its recreational value, Chatfield has an exorbitant rate of <br />evaporation and water there is largely unavailable to Denver Water. Deliberately placing water <br />there when our municipal supply system is already devastated would be wasteful and foolish and <br />contrary to Denver Water's charter obligation to provide municipal supply. <br /> <br />It is important to remember that although the drought may start to ease, conditions could again <br />worsen. Once the drought begins to lessen, Denver Water must operate its reservoirs in a <br />manner that assumes another drought may begin. Denver would attempt to refill its primary <br />reservoirs of Dillon, Cheesman, and Gross first to help prepare for another drought event. These <br />three reservoirs have senior water rights, low evaporation rates, and permit high quality water to <br />enter our treatment plants. <br /> <br />Denver Water proposes that Chatfield be filled as Denver Water's system fills. The Permanent <br />Pool would be refilled to 5423 before Denver Water's total system storage reaches 80%. <br />Chatfield might fill faster due to bypass flows and rain events, but Denver Water cannot ensure a <br />faster filL <br /> <br />4 <br />