WSP01548 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

According to project documents, using the estimate given above, average use by students would range between 77,000 and 132,000 gallons per day, and water use by tourist would range between 75,000 and 125,000 gallons per day. Thus, instead of being the 220 gpcd used in the USBR's estimates, the average per capita adjusted rate is probably more on the order of 266 to 271 gallons per day. This extremely high water use rate points directly to the need to consider water conservation as a means of postponing or avoiding the costs of facilities to store and treat large quantities of additional water. The development of the M&I water supply would occur by pumping water from the Animas river to the Ridges Basin Reservoir which would take place primarily during the Spring. The flows of the river in the winter would be 125 c.f.s and in the Summer 225 c.f.s. (the minimum flow necessary for the river's ecosystem and appearance according to the Bureau). The Ridges Basin Reservoir would be at its maximum water level in May of each year but would only be at such a level in 19 of 49 years. Maximum drawdown for the reservoir would be in July and August by 22 feet annually (8' of maximum depth as measured at the dam). From April to September the surface area of the reservoir would be decreased from 2,160 acres to 1,950 acres. Poor water years or drought (which occur statistically in 26 of 49 years) would reduce this area even more. , \ ;~ ~- ~ i / The Ridges Basin Reservoir is expected to lose 3,300 acre-feet of water annually to evaporation and the Southern ute Reservoir (if constructed) would lose 3,200 acre-feet. The city of Durango obtains its raw water supply from both the Florida and Animas Rivers according to project documents. The city has an absolute direct flow right of 8.92 cfs from the Florida River and 6 cfs from the Animas River, plus a conditional direct flow right from the Animas River of 44 cfs. The city also has storage rights for four reservoirs totaling 3,272.5 acre-feet. The Durango City Pipeline diverts water from the Florida River about 10 miles east of the city and has a capacity of 10.1 cfs. The pipeline delivers water to the Durango Reservoir No. 2 (Terminal Reservoir). The reservoir has an active capacity of 129.5 acre-feet. ,. k) :~ ;~ [.t, ... k", ' , " ~i ~} ; i1: The Animas Pump and Force Main consists of a pumping plant on the Animas River and a 1.3 mile pipeline leading to the Terminal Reservoir. These facilities have a capacity of about 9.25 cfs to the reservoir and 1.01 cfs to the Municipal Golf Course and Fort Lewis College for irrigation. 21