PROJC00189

• Contract/PO #: C150006
• Contractor Name: Palisade, Town of
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 72
• County: Mesa
• Bill Number: HB 95-1155
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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B.

780 acres. In 1996, there were 335 taps in the rural area and 750 taps in
the urban area, for a total of 1085 taps.

6. Existing Water System

The existing water system consists of the raw water collection system on
Grand Mesa, the water treatment plant with a capacity of 5 mgd located
east of Town on Rapid Creek, a 5.0 MG storage tank adjacent to the water
plant, and a distribution system. The water distribution system consists of
an extensive network of pipes extending from the water treatment plant to
approximately 3 miles west of Palisade, and includes sizes ranging from 18
inch to 1 inch.

EXISTING POPULATION AND WATER USE

1. PQpulation of Town and Service Area.

a. Town PQpulation. Table Ill-I shows population data for the Town of
Palisade for the period from 1960 through 1990 based on US Census
data. Palisade experienced a slow, steady growth for the first 70 years
of its existence; however, starting in the mid-1970's, there was a period
of very rapid growth due to the oil shale boom in Western Colorado.
The Town experienced 80% growth from 1970 through 1980, with most
of that occurring between 1977 and 1980. Population leveled off in
1983 after the oil shale industry shut down and there was actually some
population loss up through about 1990. In the early 1990's, growth
again picked up due to a strong in-migration of people from other parts
of the country, primarily from California. This phenomena occurred all
over western Colorado and adjoining states.

Table Ill-I

Historical PQpulation Data - IncoJ:POrated Town Limits Only
(US Census Data)

Tmm
Year PQpulation
1960 860
1970 870
1977 888
1978 1038.
1980 1550
1990 1871

Housing Persons/
!Inlls Hshld.

351 2.49

657 2.36
847 2.21

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