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<br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />CHAPTER I <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />A. AUTHORITY <br /> <br />In 1981, the Colorado General Assembly authorized the Colorado Water <br />Conservation Board to conduct studies of four potential water resources <br />development projects. Among these was "the Cache la Poudre Project -- an <br />integrated project up-stream of the town of Fort Collins on the Cache la <br />Poudre River" (section 7, S.B. 439). <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Expenditures for each of the studies was limited to not more than <br />$300,000. In addition, S.B. 439 specifies that future funding for the <br />potential projects" .. is contingent upon a showing that additional funding <br />is justified based on competent engineering and economic data." <br /> <br />B. STUDY OBJECTIVE <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />The objective of this Cache la poudre Project study was: to evaluate, at <br />a reconnaissance level of detail, the engineering and economic feasibility of <br />alternative projects which could develop new water supplies, improve the <br />management of already developed water, and provide hydroelectric power <br />production. The alternative projects may consist of one or more storage <br />reservoirs together with all appurtenances and associated features, including <br />hydropower facilities. <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />Reconnaissance level studies (such as the Cache la poudre Study) are not <br />intended to provide specific data or designs from which construction can <br />proceed. The intent of these studies is to investigate major concepts and to <br />identify and evaluate various alternative project configurations. An <br />evaluation of such alternative projects provides a preliminary indication of <br />project viability and is the basis for decisions of whether or not to proceed <br />with more detailed feasibility level studies. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Consistent with the legislative intent of S.B. 439 and the constraints <br />imposed by time and budget limitations, this study did not analyze a "non- <br />structural" alternative nor evaluate the environmental and recreational <br />impacts of any of the alternative projects under consideration. Rather, this <br />study is limited to addressing the threshold questions of whether there <br />appears to be any project whiCh may be feasible from an engineering and <br />economic point of view. Subsequent, detailed feasibility studies will, should <br />they be undertaken, need to thoroughly address all impacts, both beneficial <br />and adverse, of any potential project. <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />C. STUDY ARKA <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />The Cache la Poudre River Basin lies in north-central Colorado on the <br />eastern slope of the Continental Divide of the Rocky Mountains. The Cache la <br />poudre River Basin, totalling about 1,850 square miles in area, is composed of <br />two distinctly different geographical units. The mountainous upper basin, <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />1-1 <br />