BOARD01338

• Board Meeting Date: 1/27/1999
• Description: Flood Section - Platte River Basin Issues - Chatfield Storage Space Reallocation - Status Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
721 Centennial Building
1 3 1 3 Sherman Street
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

STATE OF COLORADO

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Bill Owens
Governor

MEMORANDUM

Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director, DNR

Peter H. Evans
Acting Director, CWCB

TO: Colorado Water Conservation Board

FROM: Larry F. Lang

DATE: January 19, 1999

SUBJECT: Agenda Item lSd, January 27-28, 1999 Board Meeting-
Chatfield Storage Space Reallocation - Status Report

INTRODUCTION
This memo will provide the Board with a progress report on the Chatfield Storage Space
Reallocation Study. The US Army Corps of Engineers, Chatfield Study Group, and CWCB staff
have been working very effectively on the completion of the RecOlmaissance Study and
development of the Feasibility Study Project study plan.

The Bo.ard will recall that the Board staff, in cooperation with the Corps of Engineers, conducted
a public hearing regarding expectations on Chatfield Reservoir issues. These issues ranged in
scope from downstream flooding because of certain release operations from the outlet works, to
better management of storage pools within the reservoir. Much interest was expressed regarding
the need for better reservoir operations during floods, the need for water supply storage for
municipal and agricultural communities, impacts on the existing recreational facilities, the
impact to the environment, and habitat concerns.

Following the hearing, a formal request was made to the Corps of Engineers to fund a
reconnaissance level study to determine what level of study investigation will best address the
basin needs and interests. Funding was secured for the reconnaissance study in December 1997
by the Corps, in the amount of$IOO,OOO.

SECTION 905(b) RECONNAISSANCE STUDY
The Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, in cooperation with the CWCB and its Chatfield Study
Group completed the Chatfield Reconnaissance Study in the fall of 1998. The major tasks of the
reconnaissance study were the development of a "Project Study Plan" and execution of a
"Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement."

The study recommends that there is a need to evaluate the feasibility for the development of
water supply in the existing Chatfield Reservoir. The study further recommended that the Corps
of Engineers seek authorization and funding for a feasibility study. By letter dated June 22,