WSP06318 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

00123~ CHAPTER I--INTROOUCTION PURPOSE AND SCOPE The Coal Creek studi es were authori zed and funded by the Congress to determine the economic justification and engineering feasibility of devel opi ng a munici pal water supply to meet the future needs of the communities of Superior, Louisville, Lafayette, and Erie. These studi es i dentifi ed the future needs and the avail ab I e water resources within the project area and other watersheds, assessed the availability of irrigation water rights for conversion to municipal use, and evaluated the costs of alternative plans for providing municipal and industrial water supplies. In addition, the potentials for recreati on, fi sh and wil dl ife enhancement, and flood control were evaluated, along with impacts on the environment. SUMMARY The four communiti es of Superi or, Loui svi 11 e, Lafayette, and Eri e are fully aware of their need for a long-term solution to their water supply problems. Superior currently relies on an individual well system, while the other three communities continue to acquire water rights as needed and to acquire water storage in small increments. It has long been felt that the most cost-effective solution for the Coal Creek valley would be one facility which could pool the storage needs for the four communities. These investigations have found the Coal Creek Dam and Reservoir to be the most likely facility. The water supply for the project woul d be obtained from pool ing the water rights held by the entities and by the acquisition and transfer of agricultural water rights. Water would be diverted from South Boulder Creek to the potential 11,000 acre-foot Coal Creek Dam and Reservoir on Coal Creek. Under the Coal Creek plan, the existing Community Ditch's diversion dam would be rehabilitated and modified, the canal would be enlarged and rehabilitated, and a new section of canal would be constructed. The Coal Creek plan includes minimum facilities for recreation and also basic fishery facilities. Minor flood protection would be provided by the Coal Creek Dam to areas immediately downstream along Coal Creek. The cost of construction of the Coal Creek Dam project is estimated to be $63,505,000. Annual payments in excess of $555 per acre-foot are estimated for the reimbursement of costs for this municipal and industrial water supply, which does not include anticipated costs for water rights acquisition, or treatment and distribution facilities. The communities feel the repayment requirements are financially unacceptable and, therefore, plan to analyze their individual alternatives.