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'1 MEDIA RELEASE March 11, 2004 Contacts: Frank Jaeger PWSD,303.841.4627 www.pwsd.org Floyd Ciruli, Ciruli Associates, 303.399.3173 v;:;:~4 . .i, i:r,,,,, 1~~,I('ll-;::~n 'f\'~~~ r C'J-:sf)I'Jat!OlI Parker Wins Federal Approval to Build Rueter-Hess Reservoir Project to relieve strained water supply in South Metro. Parker, COLO.-The Parker Water and Sanitation District has won final approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build Rueter-Hess Reservoir-the first reservoir permitted to help solve Douglas County's water woes. The announcement of the approved federa1404 permit that will allow construction of Rueter- Hess Reservoir and dam was made today at the Colorado State Capitol by representatives from Parker Water and Sanitation District,the Corps of Engineers and state and local elected officials. "Rueter-Hess Reservoir is a critical project in Douglas County to help preserve non-renewable water resources," said Doug Neves, president of the Parker Water and Sanitation District Board of Directors. "This is an important water management tool." The Corps of Engineers issued Parker Water the Federal 404 permit, which is required under the federal Clean Water Act, following nearly four and a half years of environmental impact study. The 404 permit is necessary because the reservoir will require dredged and fill material to be placed in wetlands and waters of the United States. The reservoir will be located about three miles southwest ofthe Town of Parker on Newlin Gulch, and will have a diversion structure on Cherry Creek to capture storm runoff. The 16,000 acre-foot reservoir will be nearly half the size of Cherry Creek Reservoir. It will serve the Parker area community and, with approval of the Parker Water and Sanitation District, could be used by other communities through specific partnership agreements. Construction will begin by the end of 2004 and is expected to take two and a half years. Paker Water currently relies nearly 100 percent on non-renewable ground water from Denver Basin aquifers. Recent studies show that underground aquifers are being depleted at a rate of approximately 30 feet per year. Rueter-Hess will help preserve the aquifers by storing storm runoff for use in dry years and during peak summer usage. (more) '8<1<(7. 7~S.- ~.s () i. 0-3