Overview History of the PDWG Three Steps to Renewable Water –Efficient Use –Sustainable Use –Reliable Use Conclusions

Palmer Divide Water Group

Why?: Individual Members are too small to finance and construct a water import project In 2003 PDWG began to: –Recruit Additional Members –Explore Alternatives for Organization –Protect Potential Sources –Study New Water Sources Palmer Divide Water Group

Front Range Water Conservation District Second Regular Session Sixty-fourth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED SENATE BILL Senate Committees House Committees State Veterans & Military Affairs A BILL FOR AN ACT CONCERNING CREATION OF A FRONT RANGE WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT Bill Summary Creates the front range water conservation district in Arapahoe, Jefferson, Douglas, Elbert, and northern El Paso counties. Allows cities, towns, and water providers …

Palmer Divide Water Group Gunnison River -Black Canyon -Aspinall EIS -Water Workshop

$50,000 Boyle Study with 3:2 Match of Dollars from CWCB

Lincoln R. & PS Full Collection & Conveyance System Install ½ Wells Crowfoot R. & PS Approximate Construction Sequence Capacity Exceeds PDWG Demand Task 4 – Project Timeline

Boyle Study Conclusions Expensive: $200million or $10,000/af (with storage) Perhaps only one well field left Mined water Water Rights are all Privately Held

Palmer Divide Water Group (N. El Paso Only) 10k AF Wellfield + 5k AF Operational Storage at Lincoln South Capital Cost: $63 million Wells:$30,900,000 Conveyance: $17,400,000 Storage: $14,500,000 Yield: 10,000 AF/Y Unit Cost: $6,300/AF Annual O&M Cost: $200,000

Palmer Divide Water Group

El Paso County Water Authority Lobby the General Assembly on Water Matters Facilitate Regional Initiatives Active Participation in the Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWASI)

Statewide Water Supply Initiative

Satellite well field Northern Providers Colorado Springs Utilities Trans-mountain Water System Interconnect (As Customers) Dry Years - Delivery from Denver Basin; Wet Years - Delivery to Providers Every Year - Delivery of Denver Basin Return Flow Recharge the Black Squirrel Groundwater Basin Treated Effluent & Wet Year Water Dry Year Recovery SDSSDS EPCWA Participation in Capacity Without Penalty PipePipe Southern Providers Cherokee & Eastern Providers Alternate Pipeline; Rotating Fallowing of Agriculture Treated Effluent DRAFT

Where are we now? –Shift to a Local Focus –Public Information Campaign –Active Lobbying of General Assembly Palmer Divide Water Group

Three Steps to Renewable Water Efficient Use Sustainable Use Reliable Use

Transit Loss Study under EPCWA Interconnection of Potable Systems Public Safety –Firefighting –Emergency Backup Efficient Use

Stretch Existing Supplies by: –Mining Other Parts of the Aquifer –Buy Renewable Water Colorado Springs Utilities Sustainable Use

Satellite well field Northern Providers Colorado Springs Utilities Trans-mountain Water System Interconnect (As Customers) Dry Years - Delivery from Denver Basin; Wet Years - Delivery to Providers Every Year - Delivery of Denver Basin Return Flow Recharge the Black Squirrel Groundwater Basin Treated Effluent & Wet Year Water Dry Year Recovery SDSSDS EPCWA Participation in Capacity Without Penalty PipePipe Southern Providers Cherokee & Eastern Providers Alternate Pipeline; Rotating Fallowing of Agriculture Treated Effluent DRAFT

Is Colorado Springs receptive? –Policy Governance –“So Long As” Sustainable Use

The Southern Delivery System Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is an opportunity Sustainable Use

Reliable Use

A Renewable Water System includes: –Tributary Water Rights –Delivery/Carry Over Storage –Conveyance Infrastructure –Terminal Storage –Treatment –Potable Distribution Reliable Use

February, 2003 Report suggested two sources: –Gunnison River –Agricultural Transfers Renewable Water

Delivery Storage –Brush Hollow Reservoir –Cooperation with Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District Renewable Water

Terminal Storage: –Recharge the Black Squirrel Closed Groundwater Basin –Forest Lakes Renewable Water

Satellite well field Northern Providers Colorado Springs Utilities Trans-mountain Water System Interconnect (As Customers) Dry Years - Delivery from Denver Basin; Wet Years - Delivery to Providers Every Year - Delivery of Denver Basin Return Flow Recharge the Black Squirrel Groundwater Basin Treated Effluent & Wet Year Water Dry Year Recovery SDSSDS EPCWA Participation in Capacity Without Penalty PipePipe Southern Providers Cherokee & Eastern Providers Alternate Pipeline; Rotating Fallowing of Agriculture Treated Effluent DRAFT

1.The Palmer Divide Water Group needs Colorado Springs Utilities much more than CSU needs PDWG. 2.Even at full build-out, the PDWG rate base is too small to finance a renewable water import project on tap fees and water rates alone.

3. The PDWG must compete for renewable water. 4. Becoming part of a Water Conservation District would make PDWG a stronger competitor. 5.First, we must use our local water efficiently.

6. Storage is important. 7. The time to buy renewable water is now. 8. We may need a private sector partner.

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