WSP07627

• File Number: 8149.700
• Description: Miscellaneous Small Projects and Project Studies - Homestake Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 5/21/1982
• Author: US Dept of Ag
• Title: Homestake Phase II Project Eagle County Summary of Draft Environmental Impact Statement
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

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water to its downstream reservoirs. In addition, Blue River water
would be pumped in a pipeline from Green Mountain Reservoir to Dillon
Reservoir, and then diverted through the existing Robert's Tunnel for
delivery to the cities of Aurora and Denver (Figure 2-4). A large
reservoir, similar in capacity to Dillon Reservoir, would be constructed
in the Eagle River drainage to release water as necessary to satisfy the
purposes and uses for which Green Mountain Reservoir water is
intended. If implemented, this alternative may eliminate the need for
construction of diversion facilities in the Cross Creek-Fall Creek areas;
and may possibly eliminate the need for many or all of the Denver Water
Departments diversion facilities proposed in the Blue and Eagle river
basins.
Alternative 5 would result in an average annual water yield to the
Cities' of about 41,000 acre-feet, and deliver water at a long-term
annual costs of $2,231 per acre-foot (192 percent of the Cities
proposal) .

Cities Pro osed Action (Alternative 6 Forest Service Preferred
Alternative
The development plan proposed by the Cities for the remainder of
their Homestake water rights would divert water from the Cross Creek
and Fall Creek drainages and transport it to the existing Homestake
Reservoir where it would enter the Cities' existing water delivery
system (see Figure 2-4 and 2-6). The proposed collection system would
consist primarily of underground tunnels connected to surface diversion
facilities by riser shafts.
Total capital costs for this alternative are estimated at $115,000,000
and annual operating and maintenance costs are estimated at $826,000.
With an estimated average' annual water yield of 20,783 acre-feet
(designed to meet instream flow criteria), annual long-term cost per
acre-foot would be $1,164.

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Mitigation Measures for Alternatives Considered in Detail
The EIS presents the mitigation measures that have been proposed
for the Homestake Phase II project, either as mitigations that are part
of the alternatives or as mitigations that are suggested but are outside
Forest Service authority. Mitigation measures which were suggested or
designed by the Cities and are a part of their environmental protection
plan as stated in the Cities' Environmental I mpact Report (E I R) and are
in compliance with 36 CFR 251.54(e)(4), are identified. Mitigations are
grouped by the alternatives that they apply to. Mitigation measures
are not requi red for the "No Action" alternative (Alternative 1) and the
existing "1962 easement" (Alternative 2) stipulations are in force at this
time; therefore, new stipulations cannot be added. I nsufficient data for
analysis in the "water trades" alternative (Alternative 5) precludes
designing mitigation measures for non-Forest system lands for
comparative purposes. Potential mitigation measures that could be
implemented by local government agencies other than the Forest Service
are disclosed in this DEIS in response to public issues raised during the
scoping process. Implementation of these mitigations could be by Eagle
County in cooperation with Lake County and the affected towns in the
area.

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