INTRABASIN, INTERBASIN AND INTRABASIN, INTERBASIN AND TRANSMOUNTAIN WATER TRANSMOUNTAIN WATER

MOVEMENT TO MEET GROWING MOVEMENT TO MEET GROWING WATER DEMANDWATER DEMANDCASE STUDIESCASE STUDIES

David Merritt, P.E., D.WRE

Chief Engineer

Colorado River Water Conservation District

September 2007

What Factors Will InfluenceWhat Factors Will InfluenceFuture DevelopmentFuture Development

Where’s Colorado’s Water?

Assessment of Colorado River Compact and Water Availability

Current Water Development

Challenges and Strategies for Future Development

Colorado’s 4 Major River BasinsColorado’s 4 Major River Basins

ColoradoColorado

PlattePlatte

ArkansasArkansas

Rio Rio GrandeGrande

Where’s the Water? - PrecipitationWhere’s the Water? - PrecipitationPrecipitation falls Precipitation falls most heavily in the most heavily in the blue-shaded areas. blue-shaded areas. The darker the The darker the color, the more color, the more moisture the area moisture the area receivesreceives..

Where’s the Water? - StreamflowWhere’s the Water? - StreamflowCOLORADO

HISTORIC AVERAGE ANNUAL STREAM FLOWS(acre feet)

OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEERCOLORADO DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES

Prepared by the Hydrographic Branch (1995)Historic averages obtained from USGS Water-Data Report CO-93

YAMPA

WHITELI

TTLE

SN

AKE

ELK

NO

. P

LA

TT

E

CACHE LA POUDRE

SOUTH PLATTE

NORTH FORKREPUBLICAN

SOUTH FORK REPUBLICAN

NO. FORK

ARKANSAS

NO. FORK

UN

CO

MP

AH

GR

E

McELMO

MANCOS

LA

PL

AT

A

AN

IMA

S &

FL

OR

IDA

LO

S P

INO

SP

IED

RA

SAN J

UAN

NAVAJOCONEJOS

PURGATO

IRE

GUNNISON

SAN MIGUELLA

RA

MIE

COLORADO

DO

LO

RE

S

RIO GRANDE

1,623,000

595,100

4,491,000

415,200

1,126,000

411,900

313,600122,400

36,420

37,950 26,290712,600 175,700 469,900

+299,800

61,610

239,600

325,000

657,400

389,200

153,600

597,200

170,300

216,300

949,200

331,300550,200

299,800

271,100

1,873,000

126,300

32,500

316,200 98,700

50,010

46,860

142,20076,050

683,500

526,900

876,300

414,300

329,200

45,120477,100

228,500

185,200

387,100

33,080

13,980

53,560

FO

UN

TA

IN

APISHAPA20,150HUERFANO

28,220G

RA

PE

24,970

BEAR31,530

51,73078,020

57,710

122,500

270,000

219,300

400,800

880,900

269,600 95,380

631,700

ST. VRAIN

BOULDER

154,800

47,140

PIC

EA

NC

E

27,790

154,400

6

5

2

1

34

7

568,100

277,800

2,804,000

335,500

40,650 78,990

EA

ST

TO

WA

RD

AT

LAN

TIC

OC

EA

N

1,3

37,0

00

af

WE

ST

TO

WA

RD

PA

CIF

IC O

CE

AN

9

,09

7,0

00a

f

TOTAL LEAVING COLORADO 10,434,000 af

ROARINGFORK

EAGLE

BLUE

TOMICHI

SOU

THFO

RK

River flows River flows reflect upstream reflect upstream precipitation precipitation and depletionsand depletions

Challenges to Future Challenges to Future Colorado River DevelopmentColorado River Development

How does Colorado develop additional Colorado River water in:– An environmentally acceptable,– Politically acceptable, and– Cost effective manner?

Current Water DevelopmentCurrent Water Development

Much of the flow of the Colorado River and its tributaries within the State of Colorado are under control of existing diverters

An area is “controlled” when there is no water available for new projects within sub-basin in at least average years

Realities:Realities:The best and most cost effective reservoir sites

have already been developed.The easy-to-build trans-mountain diversions

have been built.Available surplus Colorado River water is only

physically available in the very western reaches of Colorado:– Lower Colorado River mainstem– Gunnison River below Aspinall Unit– San Juan River basin– Lower Yampa River

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters - BasemapExisting Diverters - Basemap

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters - WolfordExisting Diverters - WolfordWolford Mountain Wolford Mountain

ReservoirReservoir

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters - CBTExisting Diverters - CBT

Colorado - Big Thompson Colorado - Big Thompson Transmountain Diversion SystemTransmountain Diversion System

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters - MoffatExisting Diverters - Moffat

Moffat Transmountain Moffat Transmountain Diversion SystemDiversion System

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters – Windy Existing Diverters – Windy

GapGap

Windy Gap Windy Gap Collection SystemCollection System

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters – Williams Existing Diverters – Williams

FkFk

Williams Fork ReservoirWilliams Fork Reservoir

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters – Dillon, Existing Diverters – Dillon,

Con-Hoosier, ClimaxCon-Hoosier, Climax

Dillon Reservoir, Continental-Dillon Reservoir, Continental-Hoosier Transmountain Hoosier Transmountain Diversion SystemsDiversion Systems

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters – Green Existing Diverters – Green

MtnMtn

Green Mountain Green Mountain Reservoir (Part of Reservoir (Part of C-BT System)C-BT System)

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters - Existing Diverters -

HomestakeHomestake

Homestake Project (with Homestake Project (with Enlargement) Transmountain Enlargement) Transmountain Diversion SystemDiversion System

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters – Fry-ArkExisting Diverters – Fry-ArkFryingpan-Arkansas Fryingpan-Arkansas

Transmountain Diversion Transmountain Diversion SystemSystem

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters – Indep Existing Diverters – Indep

PassPass

Twin Lakes Twin Lakes Transmountain Transmountain Diversion SystemDiversion System

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters - RuediExisting Diverters - Ruedi

Ruedi Reservoir (Part Ruedi Reservoir (Part of Fry-Ark System)of Fry-Ark System)

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters – Taylor Existing Diverters – Taylor

ParkPark

Taylor Park ReservoirTaylor Park Reservoir

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters – Combined Existing Diverters – Combined

Headwaters SystemsHeadwaters Systems

Developed Headwaters Developed Headwaters Combined SystemsCombined Systems

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters - ShoshoneExisting Diverters - Shoshone

Shoshone Power Plant Senior Water Shoshone Power Plant Senior Water Right (Summer, Fall, Winter)Right (Summer, Fall, Winter)

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters - AspinallExisting Diverters - Aspinall

Aspinall Unit (Blue Mesa, Morrow Aspinall Unit (Blue Mesa, Morrow Point and Crystal Dams) and Point and Crystal Dams) and UVWUA Gunnison TunnelUVWUA Gunnison Tunnel

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters - RedlandsExisting Diverters - Redlands

Redlands Water and Power Redlands Water and Power Company Senior Water Right Company Senior Water Right (Fall and Winter)(Fall and Winter)

Areas Under Control of Areas Under Control of Existing Diverters – GV Existing Diverters – GV

EntitiesEntities

““Cameo Call” Grand Valley Cameo Call” Grand Valley Agricultural Senior Water Rights Agricultural Senior Water Rights (Late Summer and Early Fall)(Late Summer and Early Fall)

PAST AND FUTURE EFFORTSPAST AND FUTURE EFFORTS

1937 Conservancy District Act– Required that any Water Conservancy District diverting

from the Natural Basin of the Colorado River provide measures such that the future supply is not diminished nor is the future cost increased for in basin users.

– Applies only to Water Conservancy Districts, not municipalities

– Applied three times Green Mountain Reservoir Ruedi Reservoir Wolford Mountain Reservoir

WOLFORD MOUNTAIN WOLFORD MOUNTAIN RESERVOIR CASE STUDYRESERVOIR CASE STUDY

Most recent implementation of Conservancy District Statute requiring Basin of Origin Mitigation

Ultimate Cooperative Project with Denver Water

Environmental Support

EARLY ACTIONS & EARLY ACTIONS & AGREEMENTSAGREEMENTS

1968 – 1985 NCWCD files for water rights for Windy Gap Project NCWCD forms Municipal Subdistrict to avoid Conservancy

District requirements. Nine-year litigation results in Colorado Supreme Court ruling in favor of CRWCD.

IGA among CRWCD, NCWCD, MPWCD, GC & NWCCOG – measures include Azure Reservoir

Azure – Windy Gap Supplemental Agreement clears the way for CRWCD construction.

PERMITTING PHASE PERMITTING PHASE 1985 - 1988 Application for Special Use Permit filed EIS and Feasibility Studies begins CRWCD – Denver – NCWCD Agreement signed on

water rights case CRWCD - Denver lease agreement signed Draft EIS issued SDEIS issued

PERMITTING PHASEPERMITTING PHASE (con’t) (con’t)

1989 – 1992 Design Engineer selected FESI issued Final Biological Opinion issued Right-of-way grant issued BR ROD for Substitution Agreement signed and

filed in court Design approved by SEO COE 404 Permit issued

CONSTRUCTION PHASECONSTRUCTION PHASE1992 – 1995 New lease agreement signed with Denver Bid accepted for construction 8 month construction delay due to case No.

91CW252 Construction contract awarded Construction commences for the reservoir Relocation of US HWY 40 – requires 7 months Construction commences for the recreation area

1995 Wolford commences filling

1996 Recreation Area opens to the Public

1996 Wolford fills after 13 months of inflow

OPERATIONS PHASEOPERATIONS PHASE

WHERE DO WE GO FROM WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?HERE?

Cooperation is key to any new projectsLocal Support and Benefit neededEnvironmental Support and Benefit neededLegally and physically available water

neededFinancial Capability needed

One Strategy to Provide Additional One Strategy to Provide Additional East Slope Water SuppliesEast Slope Water Supplies

Go far to the west to build a “classic” project involving new reservoirs, pumping plants, pipelines, tunnels, etc.

Advantages:– Develops large amounts of water, especially “dry

year” yields Disadvantages:

– Enormous costs (billions), probably will require large public subsidies

– Large and difficult environmental impacts– Overwhelming local and regional opposition

Another Strategy:Another Strategy:Utilize existing projects and reservoirs in more efficient

ways, store available wet year water, expand water re-use and conservation efforts.

Advantages:– Maximizes existing infrastructure– Minimizes environmental impact– Reduces project costs

Disadvantages:– Difficult and challenging institutional problems– Project costs still significant– May raise new environmental hurdles, primarily water quality (potable re-

use and bio-fouling of wells)– Project yields may be considered less reliable

Colorado River Basin ProposalColorado River Basin Proposal

Step 1 - Hydrology Study ResultsStep 1 - Hydrology Study ResultsJuly 9, 2007July 9, 2007

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MINTURN

NEW CASTLE

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GRAND LAKE

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RED CLIFF

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BLUE

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EVERISTPUMP BACK

LAKE GRANBY

DILLONRESERVOIR

GREENMOUNTAINRESERVOIR

GRANDLAKE

VEGARESERVOIR

RUEDIRESERVOIR

WOLFORDMOUNTAINRESERVOIR

WILLIAMSFORK

RESERVOIR

HOMESTAKERESERVOIR

SHADOWMOUNTAIN

LAKE

20

24

26

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7

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16

11

12

29

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3

27

23

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6

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1 COLORADO RIVER BASIN PROPOSAL HYDROLOGY STUDY

FIGURE LOCATIONS OF INTEREST IN THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN AND SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN

22027.00

BECPROJECT NO.

215 Union Blvd. Suite 500Lakewood, CO 80228 303-987-3443

W W W . B O Y L E E N G I N E E R I N G . C O M

B O Y L EE N G IN E E R IN G C O R P O R A T I O N

1 inch equals 129,668.955452 feet

LOCATION OF INTEREST

GAGE LOCATION

15-MILE REACH

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Colorado River Water Conservation DistrictClinton Ditch and Reservoir Company Denver Water Eagle County Board of County Commissioners Eagle Park Reservoir Company Grand County Board of County CommissionersMiddle Park Water Conservancy District Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District Summit County Board of County Commissioners

Western Water and LandWilliam Lewis, PhDGrand River ConsultingLeonard Rice Engineers

Project PurposesProject PurposesWest Slope supply with

firmingFlow enhancement on

Blue River Dillon water level

managementSupply for East Slope

with additional S. Platte use

• Green Mountain Pumpback – 42,700 AF/yr average delivery to East Slope

• Firms 20,000 af/yr new West Slope demand – delivers 13,700 af annually in DRY years • Additional Denver Water demand of 8,000 AF/yr met

• Reduced substitution bill for Colorado Springs ~ 4,200 AF/yr for DRY years

•TOTAL Potential Add’l Supply ~ 68,600 AF/yr

• Minimum storage for DW in Wolford Mtn and Williams Fork is 16,000 AF at end of critical period

•Dillon Reservoir levels enhanced

Green Mountain Reservoir Pumpback/ Fill Reduction

OTHER PROJECTS BEING OTHER PROJECTS BEING INVESTIGATEDINVESTIGATED

UNION PARK PROJECT– No local Support

YAMPA RIVER PUMPBACK– Needs local support/Environmental resolution

and significant funding

FLAMING GORGE PUMPBACK– Needs State and Upper basin Support

QuestionsQuestions