Release of the Draft Chatfield Reservoir Storage Reallocation Feasibility Report /Environmental Impact Statement (FR/EIS)
6/14/2012
Credit:
Army Corps of Engineers press release
The Corps of Engineers, Omaha District (Corps) is pleased to announce the release of the Draft Chatfield Reservoir Storage Reallocation Feasibility Report /Environmental Impact Statement (FR/EIS) on June 8, 2012.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposes to reallocate 20,600 acre-feet of storage from the exclusive flood control pool to the conservation pool at Chatfield Reservoir. Chatfield Reservoir is well placed to help meet this objective for the following reasons: the reservoir provides a relatively immediate opportunity to increase water supply storage without the development of significant amounts of new infrastructure it lies directly on the South Platte River (efficient capture of runoff) and it provides an opportunity to gain additional use of an existing federal resource.
The FR/EIS has been prepared by the Corps under the authority of Section 808 of the Water Resources Development act of 1986, in sponsorship with the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB). The study provides a comprehensive evaluation and comparison of water supply alternatives and their associated impacts and benefits. Based on the analysis presented in the FR/EIS, the Corps recommends reallocating 20,600 acre-feet of storage from the exclusive flood control pool to the conservation pool at Chatfield Reservoir for purposes of M&I water supply. Implementation of the tentatively recommended plan would reallocate storage from the flood control pool to the conservation pool, effectively raising the top of the conservation pool by 12 feet. This reallocation of storage would help meet part of the growing demand for water in the Denver Metro by using existing federal infrastructure, and lessen the dependence on non-tributary ground water.
The tentatively recommended plan meets all federal National Economic Development goals by providing average year yield of 8,539 acre-feet at less cost than other alternatives for water supply. The plan also balances environmental and recreational needs by requiring mitigation to offset impacts to terrestrial based effects (wetland and riparian habitats, including Preble’s jumping mouse critical habitat), and modification of recreational facilities affected by increasing the top of the conservation pool. The reallocation of flood storage to water supply storage would primarily result in greater and more frequent reservoir pool fluctuations at Chatfield Reservoir, but the impact on downstream flood frequency is negligible.
The FR/EIS is available online at http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/pd-p/Plan_Formulation/GI/GI_Chatfield.html. Hard copies will be available at the following community libraries and the Corps of Engineers’ Tri-Lakes Project Office no later than June 15, 2012.
· Highlands Ranch Library, 9292 Ridgeline Blvd., Highlands Ranch, CO 80129, (303) 647-6642.
· Colorado Water Conservation Board, 1313 Sherman Street, Room 721, Denver, CO 80203, (303) 866-3441.
· Columbine Library, 7706 West Bowles Avenue, Littleton, CO 80123, (303) 235-5275.
· Lincoln Park Library, 919 7th Street, Suite 100, Greeley, CO 80631, (970) 506-8460.
· Aurora Public Library, 14949 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora, CO 80012, (303) 739-6600.
· U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tri-Lakes Project Office, 9307 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Littleton, CO 80128, (303) 979-4120.
The Corps has scheduled public involvement meetings from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the following locations:
1. Monday, June 25th – The Wildlife Experience, 10035 S. Peoria Street, Parker, CO 80134, (720) 488-3300.
2. Tuesday, June 26th – Dakota Ridge High School, 13399 West Coal Mine Avenue, Littleton, CO 80127, (303) 982-1970.
3. Wednesday, June 27th – Valley High School, 1001 Birch Street, Gilcrest, CO 80623, (970) 737-2494.
For further information and/or questions about the Chatfield Reservoir Storage Reallocation FR/EIS, please contact Ms. Gwyn Jarrett, Project Manager, by telephone: (402) 995-2717, by mail: 1616 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, NE 68102-4901, or by email: chatfieldstudy@usace.army.mil.
