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Valley Water Users Fund Conduit Study

Posted on: Thursday, 25 August 2005, 00:00 CDT

Aug. 24--LA JUNTA -- A study to catalog water resources, determine costs and identify funding sources for the Arkansas Valley Conduit was approved Tuesday by a committee representing water users who would benefit from the project.

The group voted to support a $100,000 study of water resources and costs approved last week by the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District. Half of the amount will be paid by water users from the St. Charles Mesa to Lamar. The conduit would be 140 miles long, beginning at Pueblo Dam and varying in size from 42 inches in diameter to 12 inches.

Water users along the route have contributed funds to past studies and still have about $34,000 in the bank. A 75-cent per capita charge, expected to bring in about $40,000, will be charged this year to pay for the new study.

In addition, the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District could contribute another $50,000, said board member Leroy Mauch, a Prowers County commissioner. However, the board has not voted on the matter yet.

Mauch gave the strongest endorsement of the project at Tuesday's meeting, saying it is time for communities up and down the valley to support the conduit.

"We know it's got to go forward," Mauch said. "I, for one, am tired of studies, so let's get everything we need answered with this deal."

Bill Long, Southeastern board member and a Bent County commissioner, said the study will attempt to answer four major questions, along with any new ones from city councils or water boards.

"We need to answer the questions for the local utility boards," Long said. "Councils and mayors cannot sign agreements without more information."

Long said once basic questions are answered, and if the communities opt to proceed, the project becomes more expensive. Local communities will be responsible for 20-25 percent of the estimated $280 million cost.

Even before that, the communities will have to pay the same share for a preliminary design, in the range of $560,000 to $1.7 million -- based on estimates of 1-3 percent of total project costs.

Long's list of questions includes:

--Water supply: Water users need to provide a more detailed look at how much water will be available to run in the pipeline. The water includes Fryingpan-Arkansas water and existing water rights that could be transferred to Pueblo Dam.

--Cost: A accurate total cost is needed. The $280 million ballpark estimate is based on broad assumptions that could change if treatment plants were built or if the pipeline is sized differently.

--Funding sources: The study will determine what other sources of funding or long-term loans are available to meet the local share.

--Information: Finally, Long wants to know if communities have enough information to sign agreements with the Southeastern District to proceed with the project.

Long said communities to answer questions raised by Sens. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., and Ken Salazar, D-Colo., at a forum in July.

But there also are practical reasons for doing the study, some said.

"We need to determine what we really need to build," said Joe Kelley, La Junta water supervisor. "When we go to lending agencies, we need to know what the next amount is."

Water users at the meeting generally agreed that despite the high cost estimates, the project ultimately will provide higher quality water for less money.

New water quality regulations are expected to impact La Junta and Las Animas, which must dispose of brine from reverse-osmosis plants. Smaller water districts face similar costs as regulations for treatment of well water become stricter.

"Our per-tap costs could go up $20 just to meet state tests and we'd have the same old water," said Bob Hancock of the Hancock Water District.

Studies started earlier this year by the group will tie into the new study. Through the Southeastern District, the group already has begun an inventory of water resources and a study of which ditch rights might be available for exchange upstream to Lake Pueblo.

The Southeastern District is investigating engineering and legal questions in reference to its 1939 exchange right that would allow the point of diversion from Lower Ark Valley ditches to Lake Pueblo.

Most water users rely on well water and plan to blend conduit water with existing sources. But some water rights would be shifted from augmentation to provide water for the pipeline.

Dannie McMillan, water supervisor for Lamar, asked about a proposal that at one time would have earmarked $1 million from Aurora for the conduit to compensate for removing water from the valley.

Jim Broderick, Southeastern general manager, explained the specific allocation of the money was removed from the final agreement with Aurora during negotiations. The Southeastern board has made no decision on how the money paid by Aurora will be allocated.

The group will meet again at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Otero County Courthouse in La Junta.

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Source: The Pueblo Chieftain

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