BOARD02200

• Board Meeting Date: 3/26/2001
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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u.s. Bureau of Reclamation . Closed Basin Proiect
Authorization: HB 00-1419 Grant Amount: $188,000
Water Source: Closed Basin Project Type: Right of Way Acqsition
Location: San Luis Valley N. of Alamosa Project Manager: Mike Serlet
This project is the acquisition of right-of-way (ROW) for the Closed Basin project in the San Luis
Valley. The project was completed several years ago however, based on contractual agreement, the
ROW needs to be acquired from the State Land Board by the CWCB and then assigned to the
Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) for their operation of the project. The BOR has defined the legal
descriptions for the ROWand the Land Board is currently preparing the land transfer doctUnents.
The final acquisition process should be completed in 200 1.

CWCB - South Platte River Water Management and Storage Sites
Authorization: HB 00-1419 Grant Amount: $140,000
Water Source: South Platte River Project Type: Water Supply Study
Location: Project Manager: Rick Brown

This project is a reconnaissance level study of water management and storage sites in the lower
South Platte basin. The study area will focus on potential water management opportunities from
approximately the Tamarack Ranch State Wildlife Area to the Colorado-Nebraska state-line. The
study is intended to provide information that will assist in identifYing surface storage structures that
could facilitate Coiorado's management of South Platte River flows, including coordination with
ground water recharge projects, for in-state beneficial uses, such as water right and South Platte
River Compact administration and providing benefits for biological species of concern in Colorado,
and for participation in an endangered species program being developed pursuant to the Platte River
Cooperative Agreement.

The study officially got underway on January 5, 2001. Our consultant, GEl Inc. has completed an
initial review of existing information and has completed some work on water availability.
Approximately 17 potential storage sites have been identified ranging in size from approximately
1,000 to 21,000 acre-feet. We have also developed preliminary screening criteria that will be used
to obtain a "short list" of the most promising sites.

As expected our initial challenges appear to be related to fill and release logistics, and moderate to
high ratios for embankment voltUne to water storage voltUne. A meeting with our stakeholder
group will be scheduled in the next few weeks to discuss initial results and to obtain feed back on
the preliminary screening criteria. We plan to have a draft final report in May 2001.

Construction Fund - Relrlonai Water Pianninl! Studies

PlI1'llatoire River Water Conservancv District - Transit Loss Investigation Studv
Authorization: HB 95-1155 SB 99-173 Grant Amount: $60,000
Water Source: Purgatoire River Project Type: Transit Loss Study
Location: Trinidad Project Manager: Steve Miller

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