BOARD02071

• Board Meeting Date: 5/11/1998
• Description: ISF Section - New Appropriations - Phase III of the Process : Public Comment - Water Division 2 - Pueblo Board of Water Works
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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CARLSON, HAMMOND & PADDOCK. L.L.C.

Board Members, CWCB
May 11,1998
Page 3

· On May 3, 1951, Pueblo acquired the Brisendine Ranch (about 1,100 acres)
for the purpose of securing the dam site for the Tennessee Creek Reservoir.
See Exhibit B.

· At the request of the Water Development Association of Southeastern
Colorado (the precursor agency of the Southeastern Colorado Water
Conservancy District) Pueblo postponed construction of the Tennessee Creek
Reservoir. Pueblo agreed to this postponement because it was believed that
completion of the Tennessee Creek Reservoir would jeopardize federal
approval and funding of the then-proposed Fryingpan-Arkansas Project.

· For several decades, Pueblo negotiated with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
to obtain firm storage space in Fryingpan-Arkansas Project facilities but has
been unable to obtain any such guarantee. During this period, Pueblo
maintained. and still maintains, its plans to construct the Tennessee Creek
Reservoir.

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As part of its continuing plan to construct the Tennessee Creek Reservoir,
Pueblo acquired the Escondido Ranch (approximately 1,100 acres) on
November 14, 1997. The Escondido Ranch adjoins the Brisendine Ranch and
will be inundated in part by the reservoir. See Exhibit C.

· The Tennessee Creek Reservoir will store up to 35,000 acre-feet of water.
The reservoir will inundate approximately 1,280 acres of land at a high-water
elevation of approximately 9,850 feet above sea level. The proposed dam
will be approximately 58 feet in height and 2,650 feet in length.

· Pueblo plans to store a portion of its Ewing Ditch and Wurtz Ditch
transmountain water, together with native water, in Tennessee Creek
Reservoir. In addition, Pueblo may store other transmountain water and its
reusable return flows in Tennessee Creek Reservoir by exchange. This will
allow Pueblo to use its transmountain water rights in a more efficient manner.
In this regard, the Tennessee Creek Reservoir continues to be an integral
component of Pueblo's municipal water supply and storage system.

· The Tennessee Creek Reservoir will inundate about two miles of the proposed
instream flow reach. See Exhibit A.

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Pueblo anticipates that it will operate the Tennessee Creek Reservoir in a
manner that will include recreational and wildlife amenities. This will