PROJ00118

• Contract/PO #: C153670B
• Contractor Name: Ute Water Conservancy District
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 72
• Bill Number: SB 88-30
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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PLAN OF STUDY
UTE WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT..
PLATEAU CREEK PIPELINE
FEASIBILITY STUDY

The Ute Water Conservancy District (District) applied to the Colorado Water

Conservation Board (CWCB) to participate in the funding of a preliminary

engineering evaluation of their raw water pipeline. The request was approved at

the September 4, 1986, meeting of the CWCB.

Currently, the District obtains raw water from Plateau Creek at the tail

race of the Molina Power Plant. The water is conveyed by gravity flow through

an eighteen mile long, 24-inch reinforced concrete pipeline that follows the

creek down Plateau Canyon. The pipeline enters the Colorado River Canyon via a

2500 foot tunnel. During the flood years of 1982 and 1983, the pipeline was

severed on several occasions. The District was forced to utilized an emergency

pump station on the Colorado River to continue the supply of domestic water to

its users. The pump station was constructed during the drought of 1977 and was

intended to function during extremely low flow. Problems with silt and debris

were experienced with the pumps when they were used during high flow. Access to

the broken pipeline was limited due to the flooding, increasing the cost of

repair. The District has spent over $1.5 million repairing the flood damage to

the raw water line. Also, the District has recently completed an expansion of

its treatment facilities. The capacity of the plant was increased from 10 MGD

to 22 MGD. Concern exist regarding the reliability of the twenty-two year old

existing supply pipeline and its ability to delivery sufficient water for the

future needs of the District.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safe yield of water rights the

District holds and to consider means of delivering an adequate supply of water

to its treatment plant. The study will evaluate, at a feasibility level of

detail, alternatives to the present pipeline system as well as replacement of

the existing pipeline. The evaluation will consider the results of the safe

yield study and future needs of the District, based on a twenty year planning