PROJ00170

• Contract/PO #: C153481
• Contractor Name: Colorado River Water Conservation District
• Water District: 0
• Bill Number: XB 99-999
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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While preparing the final design of the modifications to Elkhead Lake Dam, it
became evident that if required excavation material from the auxiliary
spillway channel was used directly to raise the existing dam, additional
reservoi r storage coul d be provi ded at a reasonabl e cost. Wi th the approval
of the CDOW and the SEa, I~KE and the Colorado River Water Conservation
District (CRWCD) attempted to ascertain which water users in the region would
be interested in relatively inexpensive storage. The City of Craig (City) was
the most likely candidate, based on a 1979 report that identified a need for
a~proximately 5,000 acre-feet of storage for the City's raw water supply
system,

Based on preliminary cost estimates, the state legislature authorized the
Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to make matching funds available to
the City, up to $750,000, for construction of the project. The CRWCD and CWCB
agreed to divide the cost of preparing a study to determine the feasibility of
the project. In February 1987, MKE was hired to perform the Feasibility Study
for enlarging Elkhead Lake Dam and Reservoir,

The study was initiated by reviewing available reference material from the
City, CDOW, SED, and MKE, and a list of these references was compiled. A
project map was prepared showing the principal features affecting the project.

Background information on the City's history, physical assets, and present and
future financial status was gathered. Ownership of the land surrounding the
reservoir was detennined and a map prepared.

The Ci ty' s future water requi rements were determi ned from popu1 ati on
projections and per capita use rates. The analysis showed that by the year
2028, the City would require 12.6 million gallons of water per day, enough to
supply a population of 35,000 people, This is equivalent to the capacity of
the existing delivery and distribution system.

The City's water is presently supplied from direct flow rights on the Yarnpa
River, totaling 24.54 cubic feet per second. During an average year, these
rights could supply water to a population of 44,000 people. However, during

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