PROJ00479

• Contract/PO #: C153472
• Contractor Name: San Miguel Water Conservancy District
• Water District: 0
• County: San Miguel
• Bill Number: XB 99-999
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Introduction

This study was authorized by the Colorado General Assembly in HB 1042 of the 1985 session
and is sponsored by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) in cooperation with the
San Miguel Water Conservancy District (SMWCD), the Farmers' Water Development Company,
the Lilylands Canal and Reservoir Company and the Lone Cone Ditch & Reservoir Company,
The objective of the study is to investigate several alternatives for improving and expanding the
existing irrigation systems in the study area,

The study is being conducted in two phases, Phase 1 involves the identification and
reconnaissance - level evaluation of six alternatives for expanding and improving the existing
irrigation systems in the study area and a preliminary analysis for a potential pumped-storage
hydropower project. At the conclusion of Phase 1, a decision will be made whether to proceed
to a detailed feasibility - level analysis of one or more of the alternatives or to conclude planning
for the San Miguel Project with the current study,

This report summarizes the study process, the investigations and the results of the Phase 1
study, It was prepared to provide the information needed by the CWCB and the local study
participants in making a decision regarding the alternatives in this report,

Study Process

Work on the present San Miguel Water Supply Study started in mid-1986 with the adoption of a
plan of study, In February 1988, an Interim Report was distributed to describe the preliminary
study results for review by the CWCB and the local study participants, The Interim Report
described four water supply alternatives as well as the results of investigations of water
availability and water needs in the project area, institutional considerations, project financing
options, and preliminary analyses for potential hydropower and recreational facilities, The four
alternatives represented a range of water supply development options in the study area,

Based on comments received on the Interim Report, the scope of the study was expanded in
the spring of 1988 to collect more data and to investigate a number of additional alternatives,
The investigations in the expanded scope of study were completed in April 1989, Three of the

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