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<br />~~li~ ITW <br />~~~~1W~ @~ ~~@1l&~ ~~1l&@~ IT1l&W~~~IT@~~g@1l&~ <br /> <br />This chapter describes the various studies <br />that were performed in the course of the <br />Front Range investigations, as well as <br />analyses of potential aqueduct and water <br />storage concepts and conservation <br />measures, so far as the investigations <br />progressed. A summary of the <br />multi objective planning (MOP) steps, <br />participants, status of the investigations, <br />and remaining work activities is given in <br />table IV-I. <br /> <br />Two of the basic premises under which the <br />investigations were conducted were that (1) <br />surplus water, such as flood water, is <br />available in the Front Range area (South <br />Platte River Basin) which can be regulated <br />and managed so as to meet projected <br />municipal and industrial water demands, <br />and (2) additional transmountain diversions <br />were not considered as a potential project <br />water supply. It was assumed that total <br />control of all the water resources in the study <br />area would result in an improved water <br />supply to more water-using entities. <br />However, details of the hydrologic model <br />discussed below were not completed, and it <br />was not determined if this comprehensive <br />approach would be possible. <br /> <br />WATER MANAGEMENT AND <br />DEVELOPMENT STUDIES <br /> <br />Early in this Front Range investigation, the <br />desirability of managing the entire area's <br />water resources in a comprehensive <br />approach which would provide for the <br />continuation of irrigated agriculture, <br />enhance recreational opportunities, and <br />meet the growing municipal and industrial <br />needs was recognized. It was also <br />recognized that any such comprehensive <br />plans would require effective rules and <br />regulations concerning land-use controls <br />(zoning), certain changes in Colorado water <br /> <br />laws, and modernization of irrigation <br />practices. In order to analyze the water <br />management concept various water <br />resource activities were studied. <br /> <br />Following are summaries of studies of <br />measures to interconnect major existing and <br />potential Front Range storage reservoirs <br />with a potential north-south aqueduct and <br />pipe distribution system to serve irrigation <br />and municipal and industrial water <br />requirements, to rehabilitate and <br />consolidate existing irrigation facilities, to <br />rehabilitate and enlarge existing storage <br />facilities, and to develop new storage <br />reservoirs. As it was not possible to develop <br />accurate estimates of water supplies for any <br />of the facilities, the size of facilities was <br />based largely on preliminary operation <br />studies and site limitations. <br /> <br />Aqueduct and Pipe Distribution <br />System <br /> <br />A means of transporting tributary and <br />surplus surface water supplies laterally <br />among the Front Range watersheds was <br />investigated. An aqueduct combined with <br />existing and future storage reservoirs would <br />provide the ultimate in flexibility to meet the <br />area-wide irrigation and municipal and <br />industrial water needs. Interconnecting the <br />principal tributaries in this manner would <br />allow the capture of excess runoff in one <br />basin to be stored and transported to <br />adjacent basins with water deficiencies. <br /> <br />Conceptually, the aqueduct would be a <br />buried, multibarrel conduit extending from <br />south of Boulder to a point northeast of Fort <br />Collins, a distance of about 53 miles. The <br />aqueduct would parallel the foothills <br />adjacent to the major population centers of <br />Boulder, Longmont, Loveland, and Fort <br />Collins as shown on exhibit IV-I. A schematic <br /> <br />IV-1 <br /> <br />