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<br />" <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />246 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />conjunction with groundwater re-regulation could allow Colorado to "fme tune" our water <br />management actions so that we efficiently meet our CA commitments. A storage facility-could <br />provide added benefits to help offset future depletions and increase water right administration <br />flexibility. <br /> <br />The Board approved a reconnaIssance level study of South Platte Water Management and Storage <br />Sites in January 2000. The reconnaissance level study will be complete in May 2001. This <br />request for funding will allow for a efficient and timely transition to feasIbility study, and if <br />warranted engIneering design services. <br /> <br />Proiect Obiectlve <br /> <br />The proposed feasibility study is a detailed evaluation of the preferred altemative(s) for water <br />storage and management options identified in the reconnaissance study. This information will <br />enable decision makers to evaluate the most effective means of developIng and managing <br />Colorado's water commitments consistent with state law, interstate compact and sound water <br />management principles. <br /> <br />Proiect Scope <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The geographic focus of the study will center on potential storage sites from the Tamarack State <br />Wildlife Area to the Nebraska state-line, along and adjacent to the South Platte channel. <br />Information from the reconnaissance level study will be used to identify a preferred altemative(s). <br />The feasibility study will involve a detailed investigation of the preferred alternative(s). The <br />preferred altemative(s) will be investigated based on the technical, financial, and Institutional <br />aspects of the project(s). <br /> <br />A detailed scope of work for the feasibility study will be developed upon completion of the <br />reconnaissance level study (May-June 2001). The scope of work will meet the criteria established <br />in the "Water Project Construction Loan Program, Guidelines for Financial Assistance through <br />the Colorado Water Conservation Board Construction Fund". <br /> <br />The feasibility study will be initiated in July 2001 and will be completed by January 2002. <br />Approval of funding for the feasibility study at this time will save approximately one year in the <br />schedule. Staff is also reconunending approval of funding for engineering design services at this <br />time because it will allow the design to be initiated in February 2002 and be complete in July <br />200~. This will save approximately six months in the schedule. <br /> <br />DIscussion <br /> <br />The management of South Platte flows to ensure that water Is available for beneficial use in <br />Colorado, consistent with the South Platte Compact and CA commitments are clearly issues of <br />state-wide interest. In the South Platte basin the impact of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has <br />added a signIficant level of complexity to an already complex basin. The pressure of the ESA, <br />coupled with a dry 2000 irrigation season, has heightened state staff and water users concerns <br />over water availability for instate beneficial use. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />During the early coordination efforts of the reconnaissance level study several of the South Platte <br />water user groups expressed concern over water availability and were particularly concerned <br />about the speed at which the South Platte Water Management and Storage Sites project would <br />move forward. The progression of the overall project was inefficient from a timing perspecti ve <br /> <br />2 <br />