BOARD02184

• Board Meeting Date: 9/13/2004
• Description: Flood Section - 2002 Chatfield Drought Declaration Reconsideration
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

.

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

Bill Owens
Governor

MEMORANDUM

DATE:
SUBJECT:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
Rod KUharich, CWCB Director
Larry Lang, P.E., Chief, Flood Protection Section
September 3, 2004
Agenda Item 19, September 13-16, 2004 Board Meeting --
2002 Chatfield Drought Declaration Reconsideration

Russel George
Executive Director

TO:
FROM:

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

I.

Background

At the November 26,2002 CWCB Meeting, the Board approved a request from Denver Water for a
.. severe and prolonged drought declaration" (see page 4 of the attached contract dated April 1979).
This action provided Denver Water the opportunity to draw the conservation and recreational pool
below elevation 5423.0 m.s.!. This request and Board action was in response to severe statewide
drought conditions that Colorado was experiencing in 2002 including the South Platte River Basin.

Information

Denver Water has implemented a number of measures for utilizing water below 5423 m.s.!. into their
operational water system, which include pumping stations, diversions, and exchange agreements. In
addition, an Environmental Assessment for Denver Water's Chatfield pumping plant operations is
under review and consideration by interested parties. Lowering the water surface below elevation
5423 m.s.!. would raise a number of critical issues. These issues are:
. Making most State Parks recreational facilities non-operable;
. Impacting the seasonal recreational uses;
. Reducing the fishery habitat and water quality;
. Upsetting the natural environment that has developed around the reservoir;
. Refilling schedules and unknown water levels place many routine operations and risk; and
. other water related matters.

Board Action

Following discussions with Denver Water and a staff review of the Denver Water's water
availability picture, it is the staffs findings that a "severe and prolong drought declaration" for
Chatfield Reservoir at Littleton, Colorado is not in the best interest of the Chatfield Reservoir
. , operations in 2004 and Denver Metro area Chatfield users. The staff is fully aware that future
drought conditions may occur that could warrant the Board's consideration of future declaration and
Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning