WSP03537

• File Number: 8446
• Description: Cache La Poudre Platte Project
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 10/1/1987
• Title: Status of Present Studies Cache La Poudre Project
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

mainstem reservoir is that all of the data available to date indicates the
mainstem reservoir offers the most economic potential for water storage.

The environmental studies being completed during the Basin Study
Extension are intended to quantify existing aquatic, botanical, terrestrial,
cultural, recreation, land use, and aesthetic resources; assess the
potential impacts of the proposed project on these resources; and identify
possible mitigation measures. The Authority and the District both recognize
that these studies do not constitute all of the environmental studies that
will need to be completed before a feasible project can be licensed and
permitted. However, these environmental studies are the ones requiring the
most extensive field work and will address the most critical environmental
issues affecting project feasibility.

The engineering and economic studies being conducted during the Basin
Study Extension are intended to better define the location and design of
project features, proposed project Operations, road relocations, and project
costs. Since the results of these studies may affect the scope of
environmental studies, the results will be provided to the consulting
resource agencies as they become available.

To coordinate and manage the several subconsultants performing the
environmental studies, the Authority has retained Envirosphere Company of
Bellevue, Washington. Envirosphere has been involved with the detailed
environmental studies for the Cache la Poudre Project since the studies were
initiated in 1986. The engineering and economic studies are being
coordinated by Harza Engineering Company of Denver, Colorado. Harza was the
lead consultant for the previous Basin Study conducted by the Authority.
Overall management of the environmental, engineering, and economic studies
during the Basin Study Extension is being provided jointly by the Authority
and the District.

5.0 FERC PRELIMINARY PERMIT AND LICENSE APPLICATION

The District obtained a Preliminary Permit from FERC to conduct
feasibility and licensing studies in October of 1985. Assuming the Cache la
Poudre Project was feasible, the District had intended to complete all of
the necessary studies and submit a license application to FERC in September
of 1988, at the end of the permit term. Because the proposed implementation
of the project in separate, independent stages changes the scope of the
necessary feasibility and licensing studies as well as the project
operations being considered, a license application submitted in September of
1988 would probably contain a number of unresolved issues. To resolve the
issues before submitting a license application to FERC would require
additional time beyond September of 1988. However, FERC rules prohibit time-
extensions for Preliminary Permits beyond 3 years.

The District believes it would be beneficial to resolve as many issues
as possible concerning the staged project before submitting a license
application to FERC. Therefore, the District has decided to apply to FERC
for a new, two-year Preliminary Permit in September of 1988 rather than
submit a license application. Assuming significant issues have been

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