WSPC00183

• File Number: 8040.950
• Description: Section D General Studies - General Water Studies
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 6/16/1977
• Author: Unknown
• Title: High Plains Study - Memorandum for Record - May 13 1977 Meeting - High Plains Council Structure and Contractor Selection Committee
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

SOUTHWESTERN DIVISION. CORPS OF ENGINEERS
MAIN TOWER BUILDING. '200 MAIN STREET
DALLAS. TEXAS 75202

Conceptual Study Program And Cost Estimate
For Evaluating Water Transfer Potentials In
The High Plains - Ogallala Aquifer Study Area

BACKGROUND

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Section 193 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1976 directs the
Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Economic Development Administration,
to study the depletion of the Ogallala aquifer and to develop plans to
increase water supplies in the High Plains Region, The Secretary must
provide an Interim Report to Congress by 1 October 1978 and a final
report by 1 July 1980 with recommendations for further Congressional,
action.

The Commerce Secretary through EDA is to cooperate with the Secretary of
the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, and appropriate Federal,
State and local agencies, and the private sector in carrying out the
provisions of Section 193. The mechanism for Federal inter-agency coordi-
nation inVOlving the Corps of Enf;ineers was discussed at the Washington
Office of EDA on 17 March 1977. Corps of Jo:ngllll'ers representatives
inilic,ateil that the Corp" would work directly with the Department of
Commerce Study Director aud the report" of the Corp" would be subject to
review through the chain of command to the Chief of Engineers before
becoming the official report of the Corps of Engineers to the Department
'of Commcrce. The Corps would coordinate wIth the other participants of
the study to be sure that the product produced by the Corps of Engineers
would meet the needs of the High Plains Sl'udy within the framework of the
legislation. It was agreed that all fundinr, for the Corps for this study
would be centrally appropriated to the Department of Commerce (EDA) and
transferred to the Corps as needed by Interagency Ar,reement. It was also
agreed that the Corps representative in thc field would serve as dircct
advisor to the Federal Representative on the High Plains Study Council.

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On 15 April 1977 a meeting was held with EDA representatives and state
interests to further develop working relationships for the study and to
better define the scope of work to be performed by thc Corps. It was
agreed that the Corps would study the engineering fcasibility of water
transfer from adjacent areas and would conduct preliminary environmental
studies to assure that adverse environmental impacts. are minimized for
the alternatives considered. Any information developed by the Corps
would be coordinated closely with the contractor of tbe High Plains
Council, the Council itself, and with EDA for inclusion in the overall
study process.

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