BOARD01586

• Board Meeting Date: 11/25/2002
• Description: CF Section - New Loans - Central Weld County Water District - Proposed Dry Creek Reservoir
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]'
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.cQ.us

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

TO:

Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Bruce Johnson, P.E. ~~. ,
Mike Serlet, P.E., Chief /.
Water Supply Planning d ~e Section

FROM:

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

Dan M.cAuliffe
Deputy Director

DATE:

November 15, 2002

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 20g, November 25-26, Board Meeting
Water Supply Planning and Finance Section - New Loans
Central Weld County Water District - Proposed Dry Creek Reservoir

Introduction

The Central Weld County Water District (CWCWD) is applying for a $3,937,500 loan to construct a
new water storage reservoir in a 50/50 partnership with the Little Thompson Water District (L TWD).
Both districts would jointly build, own and operate the proposed reservoir. The estimated total cost
of the project is $10,500,000. In conjunction with this loan request, the L TWD is also submitting a
$3,937,500 loan request. Please see the attached project summary and map.

Backaround

CWCWD and L TWD jointly own the Carter Lake Filter Plant that treats Colorado-Big Thompson (C-
BT) water for use by their customers. Currently, the filter plant has no raw water storage facility. All
water treated by the plant is delivered directly from Carter Lake to the filter plant through the St.
Vrain Supply Canal. Consequently, the Districts are entirely dependent on availability of water from
Carter Lake. In wet years, the Districts are unable to treat and store all of the water to which they
are entitled, and consequently must take less than their water rights would allow. Over the last 10
years, the Districts together have had to carry over or lose approximately 1000 acre-feet per year.
In dry years, the Districts can have a shortage of water that cannot be overcome by supply from
Carter Lake, and consequently are forced to meet their current demands by augmenting with water
from outside entities. In addition, any condition that would interrupt supply from Carter Lake such
as maintenance to Carter Lake or the St. Vrain Supply Canal also would cause interruption in
operation of the treatment plant. Currently, the only storage the Districts have, other than Carter

Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning