PROJ00518

• Contract/PO #: C153484
• Contractor Name: San Luis Valley Water Conservation District
• Contract Type: Grant
• Water District: 0
• County: Rio Grande
• Bill Number: FSG
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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The Rio Grande Water Supply Study is sponsored by the San Luis Valley Water

Conservancy District (SLVWCD) and the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB).

The San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District (organized under Article 45, Title

37, Colorado Revised Statues) is responsible for the promotion and development of

water projects in areas of Alamosa, Rio Grande and Saguache Counties. The Colorado

Water Conservation Board is the State agency charged with the responsibility for

the protection and development of Colorado's water resources. Through its

Construction Fund, the CWCB assists local entities with the planning, development

and financing of water projects.

The primary consultant for the study was Leonard Rice Consulting Water Engineers,

Inc. (LRCWE). Sandy MacDougall, of Geddes & MacDougall, P.C., provided valuable

assistance in the direction of the study, review of study work products from a

legal perspective, and interpretation of legal documents related to the Rio Grande

Compact. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR, Amarillo office) provided technical

assistance on selected tasks.

1.2 STUDY PROCESS

In November 1985, the CWCB gave tentative approval to a request by the SLVWCD for

assistance in conducting a reconnaissance study for a new reservoir on the Upper

Rio Grande in Colorado. In August through October of 1986, the SLVWCD solicited

proposals from several engineering consulting firms and, based on a competitive

selection process, selected LRCWE to conduct the study.

In November 1986, the CWCB approved a scope of work and budget for the study with

the defined objective of determining the physical and legal availability of water

at several potential reservoir sites in the Upper Rio Grande Basin. The scope of

work was developed by the CWCB and LRCWE staffs in conjunction with the SLVWCD, the

Colorado State Engineer's Office and the Amarillo, Texas office of the USBR. Study

costs were apportioned between the CWCB and the SLVWCD with technical assistance

to be provided by the USBR.

A Plan of Study dated November 12, 1986, consisted of the following major tasks

which were conducted between January and October of 1987. Since subsequent

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