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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cJiAPTER I

EXEcUTIVE SUMMARY

Cottonwood Creek Pipeline Project
Town of Palisade, Colorado

The purpose of this report is to evaluate the feasibility of replacement of the
Cottonwood Creek pipeline which convey~ raw water from collection and storage facilities
on the northwest side of Grand Mesa to the Town of Palisade's water treatment plant.
The watershed which supplies raw water is located about 5 miles south and east of the
Town of Palisade, within the upper basin$ of Rapid Creek and Cottonwood Creek, at
elevations ranging from 7,000 to 10,000 feet.

All of the raw water collection facilities, which consist of diversion points on the
streams and spring collection boxes, alonl! with several reservoirs, are located in the
upper portions of the watershed. Two seP8I'8te pipelines, one following Cottonwood
Creek and the other following Rapid Crecik, convey water a distance of 4.3 and 3.7
miles respectively, to the confluence of the two streams, where the pipes join (the Wye).
From here, water is carried in a new (1989) 12-inch pipeline approximately 5,300 feet to
the water tmltment plant. Both the Cottdnwood Creek and the Rapid Creek pipelines
were constructed in the 1950's of 6-inch ;Uld 8-inch diameter pipe, most of which is cast
iron material with lead/jute joints. Both l>perate as non-pressure pipelines. Both
pipelines are near maximum capacity and have deteriorated over the years; each pipeline
experiences several breaks every year.

Of the two pipelines, the CottonwoOd Creek pipeline is the most important. It is
tied into both Kruzen Springs, which is the most important source of high quality clean
water in the watershed, and to Cabin Reservoir, which is by far the largest storage unit
of the system. In order to fully utilize the Town of Palisade's available water supply
and meet maximum day demands, the Cottonwood Creek pipeline will need to be
replaced.

At the present time, the Town of palisade serves a population of 3300 people,
with an annual water delivery of 930 acre feet and a maximum day demand of about 2.5
MGD. By the year 2025, it is estimated that the Palisade service area will have 6100
people, a maximum day demand of 3.3 MGD and an annual water use of 1500 acre feet.
During this period, the Town plans to implement a water conservation program which is
estimated to reduce per capita water usage by 12 %. In addition to its own needs, the
Town of Palisade has historically provided supplemental water to the Ute Water treatment
plant, which is located approximately I mile north of the Wye. The combined demand
of the Palisade water plant, along with supplemental water for the Ute plant, carriage
water to balance supply and demand is estimated to be 3.8 MGD in the year 2025. The
present capacity of the two existing pipelines is estimated to be 2.0 MGD on a year-
round basis, although higher peak flows are feasible for short periods.

A

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