WSP07218

• File Number: 8220.107.A
• Description: Basalt Participating Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 2/28/1973
• Title: Information Sheets - Basalt Project-Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Project Overview

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Basalt ProjectPntinued)

Benefit-Cost Analysis (100 yea.rs - 5 1/2%)($1,000)

Project costs
Interest during construction
Assigned Ruedi storage costs
Less preauthorization investigation costs
Total investment cost for benefit-cost analysis
Annual equivalent of investment costs
Annual O&H
Annual depletion charge
Total annual costs
Annual benefits Direct Total
Municipal water2/ 1,400 1,400
Domestic water3/ 700 700
Irrigation4/ - l60 320
Total 2,260 2,450
Benefit-cost ratio - direct benefits 1.00:1.00
Benefit-cost ratio - total benefits l.08:l.00
1/ Very preliminary pending determination of available and required
active capacity utilized by Basa.lt Project water users, and the appropriate
associated cost.
2/ Assumes average
3/ Assumes average
4/ Assumes average
$50 per acre-foot total.

32,000
2,500
1/5,000
-593
38,907
2,140
100
21
2,26l

annual benefit
annual benefit
annual benefit

of
of
of

$120 per acre-foot.
$15 per acre-foot.
$25 per acre-foot direct

and

Environmental Involvement

This area had an 85 percent growth rate between 1960 and 1970 and indi-
cations are that this trend will continue and probably accelerate over
the next 30 to 50 years. As a result of this tremenaous increase in
population, the existing water supply facilities have been over-extended
and shortages are occurring. Numerous trailer camps have been located
adjacent to the Roa~tng Fork River to obtain a dependable domestic water
supply and many of these CBJl\pS are without proper sanitation or sewage
treatment plants. This results in spraWling uncontrolled settlements
that are polluting the Roaring Fork River. Project-supplied domestic
water of excellent quality will change the trend to permanent type homes
on the mesas overlooking the valley and reduce the stream pollution in
the Roaring Fork River.

The effects construction of the Basalt Project would have on the environ-
ment would be of short duration. All pipelines: lrould be buried and con-
struction scars obliterated by reShaping the areas to conform with its
natural surroundings and revegetated with trees, grasses, and shrubbery
typical of that vegetative zone. Also, contracts would include measures
to protect the streams from pollution by construction materials or equip-
ment.

About 530 acres of native big-game habitat would be destroyed by the
project since nearly all the .lands to be irrigated are privately owned

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