WSP06826

• File Number: 8441.600.20
• Description: Pleasant Valley Pipeline
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 11/1/2000
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Pleasant Valley Pipeline Draft Environmental Assessment
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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PLEASANT V ALLEY PIPELINE
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

Carter Lake. The main Boyd Lake plant is a seasonal plant that operates during high
demand periods and shuts down during low demand periods. The second Boyd Lake
plant is used to meet extraordinary demands. The Bellvue WTP on the Poudre River has
a capacity of about 30 mgd and treats water from the Poudre River and C-BT water from
Horsetooth Reservoir. The Bellvue plant can receive water from the Poudre River
throughout the year, but the amount of water available during winter months is limited
because of low flows. Thc Bellvue plant can receive C-BT water from Horsetooth
Reservoir between April and November when the Charles Hansen Supply Canal is in
operation. As planned growth in Greeley occurs, the winter water demand will soon be
greater than the amount of water available to the Bellvue plant from the Poudre River.
The PVPL would allow winter deliveries ofC-BT water from Horsetooth Reservoir to
the Bellvue WTP, which would allow this plant to meet full winter demands and improve
the overall efficiency of Greeley's water treatment operations by eliminating the need to
bring the main Boyd plant on-line to meet winter demands. The PVPL would help
minimize water treatment operating costs and provide improved flexibility and reliability
for the Greeley water supply system. The PVPL also would allow Greeley the option of
selecting between its Poudre River and Horsetooth Reservoir sources to manage the
quality of the raw water supply to the Bellvue WTP. .

Decision Process
The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) constructed the Munroe Canal as part of
the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. By contract with Reclamation, the Munroe Canal
currently is operated and maintained by the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy
District (NCWCD), which has subcontracted this responsibility to the North Poudre
Irrigation Company (NPIC). NPIC uses the Munroe Canal to divert Colorado-Big
Thompson Project water by exchange, and to divert and carry tributary Poudre River
water under its control. In order to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed
Pleasant Valley Pipeline, the District seeks to enter into a contract with Reclamation for
carriage of tributary Poudre River water in the Munroe Canal and obtain a permit from
Reclamation to connect the proposed pipeline to the Munroe Canal. Reclamation's
execution of a contract and permit is considered a federal action, which requires
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEP A). Reclamation
is the lead federal agency responsible for completion ofNEPA documentation.

This EA analyzes the potential effects to the environment from the Proposed
Alternative and a No Action Alternative. The EA was prepared in accordance with the
NEP A and the NEP A regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR
1500). The Draft EA will be released to the public for a 30-day public comment period.
Reclamation will determine whether the environmental consequences of the proposed
action require preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or a Finding of
No Significant Impact (FONSI).

In a separate independent action, Reclamation is considering transferring ownership
of selected Colorado-Big Thompson Project facilities to the Northern Colorado Water
Conservancy District. The selected facilities include the Munroe Canal (North Poudre
Supply Canal), Dixon Feeder Canal, Charles Hansen Supply Canal, and Windsor
Extension. The transfer of ownership of these facilities to the Northern Colorado Water

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