BOARD00718

• Board Meeting Date: 11/25/2002
• Description: Flood Section - Chatfield Reservoir Drought Declaration
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

-2-

1

This agreement specifically addresses the drought conditions issue. In addition, the agreement addressed
"an initial filling provision" of the permanent conservati~n pool. The 1979 !lgreement states in 2.a the
State shall "Pay to the Contractor (Denver Water) the suill of two million eight hundred thousand dollars
($2,800,000) by the State Division of Parks and Outdoor;Recreation, in accordance with law, for the
initial filling of Chatfield Reservoir to an elevation of at least 5,426.94 ...") and in 2,b the State shall
"Convey to the Contractor by quit claim deed or stock certificate, as appropriate, the following water
rights from the South Platte River now claimed by the St~te: 365 acre rights out of the Highline Canal of
the Northern Irrigation Company, 16.1 shares of the Last Chance Ditch Company No.2, 57.87 acre rights
of the Antero and Lost Park Reservoir Company, and all!ofthe State's storage rights in Chatfield
Reservoir."

e

Additional concerns and issues regarding the operation o'fthe Chatfield Conservation Pool by
The Colorado State Parks, which are: .
. At 5423 feet msl the entire recreational complex becomes impacted;
. At 5421 feet msl the boating and lake usage becomes severely impacted;
. At 5419 feet msl the water based recreational activities throughout the Park are terminated; and
. 5423 feet msl is the next season's refill elevation by May I st.
· Yield of water between 5423 and 5419 is only 3 ,Q4 7 acre feet, but eliminates recreational facilities

The Colorado Water Conservation Board concerns are: i
· 5421 feet msl and below is the elevation that the CWCB must pay all the pumping costs for the
delivery of irrigation waters into the Last Chance, Ditch; and
· 5423 feet msl is the refill elevation for any annual CWCB drought declaration.

e

Action

As of the date of this CWCB Memorandum, there is no agreement regarding a number of key issues for
the preparation of a "Severe and Prolonged Drought Declaration" for consideration by the CWCB. The
discussion issues and the State (CWCB and Parks Staffs) and Denver Water recommendations are as
follows:

The Issue: State Recommendation

Denver Water Recommendation

1. Term of the Declaration One year from date of issu~

No term limit

2. Date of first withdrawal After Labor Day weekend
below elevation 5423 feet

After a Denver Water Stage 2
Declaration (Moderate drought and
Denver's Reservoir storage at 60% of
Full)

3.Withdrawal below
elevation 5421 feet After Labor Day weekend

After a Denver Water Stage 2
Declaration

4.Withdrawal below
elevation 5419 feet

After Labor Day weekend.

After a Denver Water Stage 3
Declaration (Severe drought and ..
Denver's Reservoir storage at 40% of .
Full)

Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Financing. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Cohservation Planning