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<br />Dowe Flats Mining and Reservoir Permit - page 3 <br />Question 4: Effects of a Dowe Flats reservoir on orowth. <br />Every rater supply project has effects that both stimulate and inhibit <br />groxth. The communities in the area deserve to have the effects to them <br />quantified before a reservoir is permitted. It is clear that Dowe Flats is <br />positioned to receive relatively cheap Colorado Big Thompson and Windy Gap <br />rater. Both of these supplies are available in the winter, which makes this <br />water unusual for the area. Virtually all farm land on the Front Range is <br />supplied with irrigation water, so "summer water" is available to almost any <br />parcel of land. It is "xinter water" that determines xhich parcels and towns <br />can develop. <br />The only place the "Water Storage Project Application" document addresses <br />growth effects of the project is in section 7.3, on page 47, where it is <br />stated that <br />". by providing water storage to increase the efficiency of northern <br />Front Range water supply infrastructure, the reservoir could delay <br />pressure to convert agricultural water rights to municipal use." <br />This is actually exactly the opposite effect of the project on agricultural <br />water. Agricultural water, by itself, cannot be converted into municipal <br />use, because it is aot available in the winter. Either additional reservoir <br />space must be constructed to hold the water until winter or "xinter water" <br />must be combined with the agricultural supply. The Doxe Flats project offers <br />both means for converting agricultural water into municipal use. <br />Dowe Flats is downstream from Lyons. We agree with the application document <br />xhich says Dowe Flats rater xould likely be used by Longmont. Construction <br />of Doxe Flats reservoir would most likely trigger groxth in Longmont and the <br />unincorporated County at the expense of Lyons. Alternately, Lyons would be <br />forced to grow extensively to the east. This could destroy the identity of <br />Lyons. <br />Thank you for considering these comments. <br />Sincerely, <br />~~ ~ <br />Gary Brenner, Conservation Chair <br />