Laserfiche WebLink
<br />002885 <br /> <br />CoUbran Project Title Transfer Information Sheet <br /> <br />Background: The Collbran Project is a Federally-owned Reclamation Project that provides <br />irrigation water, hydropower, recreation and other benefits. The project, located in Mesa County <br />Colorado, is operated by the Collbran Water Conservancy District and the Bureau of <br />Reclamation. Ute Water Conservancy District has a license agreement with Reclamation to <br />divert a portion of Ute's water rights at the Lower Molina Hydropower plant discharge point. <br />The Collbran Project was completed in 1960, and under a 1957 contract, the Collbran District <br />provides project repayment and operates and maintains Vega Dam and irrigation facilites. The <br />Colorado Division of Parks operates and maintains recreation facilities at Vega Reservoir while <br />the Colorado Division of Wildlife manages fish and wildlife resources there. Reclamation <br />operates the Grand Mesa Reservoirs and the Molina Powerplants. <br /> <br />Title Transfer: Throughout the West, Reclamation has a program to consider transfer title of <br />facilities which could be efficiently managed by non-Federal entities. Six major criteria have <br />been established to evaluate individual title transfers: <br /> <br />. The Federal Treasury, and thereby the taxpayer's financial interest, must be protected <br />. There must be compliance with all applicable State and Federal laws; <br />. Interstate compacts and agreements must be protected; <br />. The Secretary's Native American trust responsibilities must be met; <br />. Treaty obligations and international agreements must be fulfilled; <br />. The public aspects of the project must be protected. <br /> <br />Features Considered for Transfer: Vega Dam and Reservoir; LeonlPark Creek Feeder Canal; <br />Southside Canal; associated project facilities, lands, and rights-of-ways; the Bonham/Cottonwood <br />Pipeline, East Fork Feeder Canal, and Upper and Lower Molina Powerplants; Reclamation's <br />interests in the 15 privately-owned Grand Mesa Reservoirs (Cottonwood Lakes, Neversweat, <br />Little and Big Meadows, Lambert, Big Creek, Atkinson, Forty Acres, Silver, Bonham, DeCamp, <br />and Kitson). Water rights for the project include rights owned by the Collbran District, <br />Reclamation, and private interests. Reclamation's interests would be included in any transfer. <br /> <br />Decision Making: Congressional authorization is required to approve a Title Transfer. <br />Reclamation is responsible for completing NEP A and other environmental compliance. <br /> <br />Proposal: Transfer title, ownership, and responsibilities of the Collbran Project to the Collbran <br />and Ute Water Conservancy Districts. <br /> <br />Process: A cost-sharing agreement to fund the process will be needed. A NEP A document will <br />be prepared to evaluate the proposal; value of assets to be transferred will be determined; final <br />agreement in principle to transfer executed or determination not to transfer made; necessary <br />agreements developed; and legislation to transfer sought. <br /> <br />Public Input: Scoping meetings will be held in Grand Junction and Collbran, Colorado in <br />August 2003. Public comments and concerns should be provided to: Mr. Ed Warner, Bureau of <br />Reclamation, Suite 106,2764 Compass Drive, Grand Junction CO 81506; faxed to (970) 248- <br />0601; or emailed to smccall(al,uc.usbr.gov. <br />