Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Board - Minutes - 08/15/1975WATER BOARD SPECIAL MEETING August 15, 1975 - 3:00 P.M. Present: Ward Fischer Raymond Anderson Bernard Cain, Jr. Henry Caulfield Norman Evans Ronald Fulkrod Everett Richardson James Waltz Robert Brunton Absent: Karl E. Carson Harvey Johnson Council members present: Bloom, Bowling, and Wilkinson Staff members present: DiTullio, Cain, Krempel, Liquin, B. Alexander, Hays, Hilgenberg, Holmes, and Lewis Also: City Attorney March Also: Harold Ellingson Lyman Flook Bruce Jones Members of the Press Chairman Fischer called the meeting to order and stated the Chair would exercise its prerogative to change the agenda. Recommendation of Water Board to Proceed with Design of Expansion to Soldier Canyon Water Plant Noting that a Predesign Report by CH2M Hill had been furnished to each of the Water Board members, Chairman Fischer stated the engineers have suggested Alternative lb out of three alternatives for the design of the expansion to Soldier Canyon Water Plant. Board member Caulfield stated the City had contributed money to study a new outlet at Horsetooth Reservoir and possibly a treatment plant at that point. He had a question on how do we rationalize both the expansion of the Soldier Canyon Water Plant and a treatment plant at Horsetooth. Mr. Roger Krempel, Director of Water Utilities, advised him we are bringing the Soldier Canyon Water Plant up to its highest capacity to meet immediate water needs. The treatment Plant at Horsetooth Reservoir is a long term solution to water needs and is still under investigation. Board member Caulfield stated having more storage of treated water as an alternative might possibly be a cheaper way of handling peak loads than increasing plant capacity. He inquired as to what is the average treated water storage capacity. Mr. Krempel informed him the average is 35 million gallons, which is 2/3 of a peak day. Under an emergency situation, when emergency conditions would apply, this might be a 3 day capacity. He further stated this question will be addressed as we reevaluate the 10 year capital improvement program. Board member Anderson inquired if we are using the total capacity of the current Soldier Canyon Water Plant now. Mr. Krempel advised him the Plant runs only in the summer, and during that time it is used to its total capacity. Mr. Charles Liquin added the Plant normally runs about 15 million gallons a day. The peak day this year was 35 million gallons a day which is the total of both plants. Mr. Anderson stated that we wouldn't have enough capacity then to fill another reservoir at that location. Board member Caulfield inquired if the Water Board could expect more analytical material in the future that will show them very clearly what the optimum set of alternatives will be, so they can see exactly what the relationships of increased water storage will be to the operation of the plant as an optimum system operating throughout the year. Dr. Caulfield stated he would like assurance that the Water Board could expect more analytical material to justify what they are asked to approve. Board member Caulfield made a motion, seconded by Dr. Evans, that subject to these understandings and conditions, the Water Board recommend to the Council the approval of Alternative lb for the design of the expansion to the Soldier Canyon Water Plant. The Chair put the motion, which was unanimously adopted. (Board member Fulkrod abstained from voting.) Recommendation of Water Board to Proceed with Design of Joe Wright Reservoir, and the Recommended Size Thereof Chairman Fischer stated the Water Board was pleased to have three members of the Council present. Also present was Mr. Harold Ellingson and Mr. Lyman Flook from McCall -Ellingson & Morrill and Mr. Bruce Jones, Vice President of Bittinger & Associates, to answer any questions. Chairman Fischer briefly summarized the background of the Joe Wright project. Joe Wright Reservoir/Michigan Ditch was acquired by trade from the North Poudre Irrigation Company. The Water Board recommended the trade and the City Council accepted the recommendation. The Water Board had considered various alternatives that were available to the City of Fort Collins in regard to raw water projects. A committee of the Water Board explored various alternate storage sites that might be available, and the conclusion was the Joe Wright was the best site. Based on that investigation, the Water Board recommended to the Council that the Michigan Ditch be renovated and the Joe Wright Reservoir be constructed, and the Council accepted that recommendation. A question came up after that recommendation as to whether or not further studies should be made, particularly studies concerning the geology of the area. After considerable discussion, the Water Board reaffirmed its recommendation to the Council on a unanimous vote less one that their recommendation still stood, that Joe Wright should be constructed and the engineers go ahead with the necessary studies. t Chairman Fischer stated for further clarification, that in the Water Board's prior recommendation to the Council, they outlined the fact that without Joe Wright, the City of Fort Collins would soon be out of water, therefore it was desirable to build Joe Wright and increase rates sufficient to pay for it. Chairman Fischer stated the Water Board would now discuss its recommendation concerning the size of Joe Wright Reservoir. Board member Richardson inquired for the record how much water was available to store in Joe Wright for the high dam. Chairman Fischer stated his conclusion is that the City should build the high dam and there is sufficient water to store in it. Joe Wright high dam is the least expensive and he felt the City would ultimately need it. There are three sources of water which would go in the reservoir. One source of water would be waters from the Michigan Ditch. The average production of water during the years 1921 to 1935 was 4,341 acre feet of water. The maximum was approximately 8,000 acre feet. A study by Bittinger & Associates on the Michigan Ditch showed we could get 78% of the run-off by extending the operational ditch renovation an additional 4,500 feet to pick up a snow pack. By taking 70% of the run-off area according to computations Bittinger had made, there is easily 5,500 acre feet of water producible from that side. Also, Bittinger had done a study on weather modification techniques in the Colorado mountains and how the water could be developed and captured. Chairman Fischer felt the City could get over 3,000 acre feet of water from the Michigan Ditch in most years. Another source of water is the watershed of Joe Wright on this side of the mountain. The City has a conditional decree for the complete filling of Joe Wright from this side of the mountain. The final source of water would be water rights the City now has or will acquire, which are not useful now, and transfer them to the reservoir. Chairman Fischer stated that these three sources of water convinced him the City should build the high dam, and it is essential as it is the only major raw water project available on the Poudre River. Board member Anderson inquired if the North Platte decree of limiting 60,000 acre feet of water every 10 years from Jackson County would create a problem of getting water in some years. Chairman Fischer replied that the Water Supply & Storage Company has the only ditch, besides the City of Fort Collins, that has senior rights on transmountain diversions, and they would not be of substantial interference. He further stated the Michigan Ditch right is a very junior right, but the reason it has a tremendous storage diversion is because in late May and early June, North Park is inundated with water, and history indicates we will not be shut off enough to interfere. Dr. Caulfield inquired of Mr. Ellingson if the high dam proposed was the highest possible height Joe Wright could be built. Mr. Ellingson advised him geologically this was the maximum height. Mr. Lyman Flook spoke to the water available on this side. There is over 7,000 acre feet of storage capacity from the Joe Wright watershed without reference to the Michigan Ditch. He concluded by saying that the capacity is neither too small nor too large. 9 Chairman Fischer further stated that the decision had been made to build Joe Wright Reservoir, the question before the Board was what size should the City build the dam. This had never been recommended to the Council, because Mr. Ellingson had shown there were three possibilities, a low, a middle, or a high dam. A specific recommendation was delayed until the Water Board could have a meeting with the engineers present to discuss the amount of water that is available and the use of the reservoir. Chairman Fischer stated the first order of business was any questions the Water Board and the Council had regarding the background of the acquisition of Joe Wright Reservoir and any studies made so far. Board member Caulfield had a question concerning the comparison of the enlarged Barnes Meadow Reservoir to the Joe Wright Reservoir. He referred to the Summary Report of the Environmental Impact Studies which says that Barnes Meadow and Joe Wright appear to be an equally good solution, and adverse environmental impacts are judged to be equal, although there would be a savings in financial costs with Barnes Meadow. He inquired if the cost figures on Table 41 of that Study included the acquisition of Barnes Meadow. Mr. Ellingson informed him that it included $1 million for the acquisition based on discussion between the City of Fort Collins and the City of Greeley. Board member Caulfield asked Mr. Ellingson to explain his recommendation of Joe Wright high dam in regard to the cost differences. Mr. Ellingson advised him that there are many physical aspects of Barnes Meadow that we do not know about, and it may be that Barnes Meadow could not be built for that exact amount of money. The City should not disregard Joe Wright in favor of Barnes Meadow even though Barnes Meadow appears equal or economically better. Due to legal issues, Joe Wright is the project to construct. City Manager Brunton stated that the City of Fort Collins had met with the City of Greeley twice concerning the acquisition of Barnes Meadow. He is waiting for an appraisal of that reservoir and that is why Mr. Ellingson had to use the $1 million figure. Mr. Ellingson added the City did not have the funds to explore all the alternates in the depth he explored Joe Wright. To compare directly the estimates of Barnes Meadow to Joe Wright would be misleading. To determine that Barnes Meadow would be a better project, it should be given a complete engineering study. Mr. Caulfield stated for the record that there is a substantial cost difference. He can see the possibility of the City having both the projects, but he questions which one should come first. Mr. Ellingson replied by saying, we have all the answers for Joe Wright but not for Barnes Meadow. Mr. Krempel brought the Water Board up-to-date on the financial aspects of the Water Utilities capital expenditures, and pointed out that revenue projections based on the level of current income agreed very closely with the projections made by Black & Veatch at the time of the Rate Study. However, due to rising chemical costs and other inflationary matters, the cost of operation is also increasing. The Water Board was advised by Mr. Krempel that in order to provide funds for the construction of Joe Wright Reservoir, an approximate $7 million bond issue would be required early in 1977 and an approximate 50% rate increase would be required early in 1978. Board member Richardson made a motion, seconded by Dr. Evans, that the Water Board recommend to the Council to proceed with the design of Joe Wright Reservoir at the high dam size. The Chair called for a roll call on this motion, which was unanimously adopted. City Manager Brunton stated he would communicate this recommendation to the Council for the Water Board. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned. Secretary