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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.0 Letter from the Office of the State Engineer, Division of Water Resources (02.27.1984)RICHARD D LAMM Governor 2124H ,vh'4, / D JERIS A DANIELSON O State Engineer OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES 1313 Sherman Street -Room 818 Denver. Colorado 80203 (303) 866-3581 February 27, 1984 Mr. Mark L. Bean Garfield County Dept. of Development 2014 Blake Avenue Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 Dear Mr. Bean: Re: Cottonwood Hollow Subdivision Section 12, T7S, R88W We have reviewed the above referenced proposal for 13 lots creating 11 new dwelling sites. The proposed source of water is individual wells pursuant to the augmentation plan in Water Court Case No. 80CW359. The augmentation plan in 80CW359 allows for 35 on -lot wells with specific water use limitations. The plan determines that the total consumptive use from these wells would be 2.06 acre-feet per year. The source of water would be releases from McVey Reservoir, decreed for three acre-feet absolute and ten acre feet conditional in 1980. The reservoir would be filled only under its own priority and no senior water rights support this plan. We are concerned about the storage reservoir and must indicate that the water supply plan does not contain sufficient information in this regard. Our concerns and/or comments about the reservoir follow: 1. We are concerned that the reservoir may leak excessively. We believe that springs and seeps above may represent an uncontrolled, diffuse source of inflow which is not readily measured. The reservoir may be located in such a manner that these sources are not readily diverted around the reservoir. When the reservoir is not in priority, inflow from these sources should not compensate for evaporation. Rather, water levels should be lowered to compensate for evaporation and also probably seepage loss unless it can be demonstrated that the physical situation is such that the uncontrolled seepage from the reservoir would get to the stream essentially unaltered in timing and volume. The reservoir may leak to such an extent that the water level cannot be maintained even when diffuse sources enter the reservoir. 2. A depth -area -capacity curve should be developed by survey to estab- lish the measurement needed for administration. A staff gauge will need to be installed. Our Division Engineer may also require measur- ing devices to determine inflow and releases. Mr. Mark L. Bean Page 2 February 27, 1984 3. We are concerned that the actual capacity of the reservoir may be less than the decreed amount. The applicant should demonstrate that the actual capacity as determined by the area -capacity curve is sufficient to compensate for make up water requirements, evaporation, and any potentially injurious seepage losses which occur. The plan for augmentation also requires the applicant to take necessary steps including protective covenants, etc. to ensure water use limits are enforced. he would ask for the water use limitations to be specifically men- tioned in both plat note and covenant. The augmentation plan limits each well to serving one dwelling, one horse, and 1,000 square feet of lawn and garden. This is a rather strict limit on irrigation of which buyers should be made aware. There may be irrigation ditches crossing the property. We recommend the ditch companies be contacted and their recommendations concerning rights of way, easements, etc. be considered. We cannot recommend approval of this proposal until the applicant demon- strates the reservoir will be able to provide water in accordance with the augmentation plan. We will be happy to review additional information at your request. Sincerely, 02)40W S—v4 Coal D. Simpson, P.E. Assistant State Engineer FHS/KCK:ma cc: Orlyn Bell, Div. Eng. Mel Malley