WSP05205

• File Number: 8441.600.20
• Description: Colorado Big Thompson Project - Studies
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 12/14/2000
• Title: Correspondence Re: Comments on Draft Environmental Assessment - December 14 2000 - January 2 2001
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

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STATE OF COLORADO

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

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Bill Owens
Governor

December 14,2000

Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director

U. S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Reclamation
Eastern Colorado Area Office
11056 West County RD 18E
Loveland, Colorado 80537-9711

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

ATTN: EC-1340 (Vie Grizzle)

Subject: Comments on Draft Environmental Assessment - Title Transfer of Selected
Colorado-Big Thompson Project Water Facilities to 1he Northern Colorado Water
Conservancy District- Colorado-Big Thompson Project, Colorado

The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) supports the proposal by the U.S. Bureau of
Reclama1ion (Reclamation) to transfer ownership of selected Colorado-Big Thompson Project (C-BT)
single purpose water facilities to the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (District). The
facilities proposed for transfers of ownership are:

. Dixon Feeder Canal
. Charles Hansen Supply Canal (also known as Poudre Supply Canal) and Windsor Extension
. North Poudre Supply Canal and Diversion Works

As part of the federal government's National Perfonnance Review, Reclamation has undertaken a program
to transfer title of facilities that could be efficiently and effectively managed by non-federal entities and
that are not of national importance. In accordance with this program, Reclamation proposes to transfer the
facilities to the District. The purposes of the proposed transfer oftitle to the District are:

. Divest Reclamation of all present and future responsibility for and cost associated with the
management, operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, replacement of, and liability for, these
facilities.
. Eliminate duplication of efforts between the District and Reclamation in issuing and administering
crossing licenses and other fonns of pennission to utilize the land on which 1he facilities are located.
. Provide for local control over single-purpose wa1er facilities that are not of national importance.

The most important legal and regulatory environmental changes resul1ing from the proposed transfers
involve the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 1he Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

The NEP A requires Reclamation to consider the effects of its actions that may significantly affect 1he
quality of the human environment. But these 1itle transfers from Reclamation to the District likely will

Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Financing. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning