HomeMy WebLinkAbout20071019.tiff RESOLUTION
RE: EXPRESSION OF SUPPORT FOR CHATFIELD RESERVOIR REALLOCATION
PROJECT
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to
Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of
administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS, all water users in the state of Colorado, and in particular Weld County, are
dependent upon the effective utilization of limited supplies of water that predominantly result from
runoff derived from snowmelt, which frequently moves at a high rate of flow and occurs during a
relatively short period in the spring of each year, and
WHEREAS, providing water for the beneficial use of the citizens of Colorado requires
surface water storage capacity to capture runoff for later delivery to users, and
WHEREAS, the United States Army Corps of Engineers ("USAGE") has determined that
Chatfield Reservoir can accommodate 20,600 acre-feet of storage for municipal and other
purposes without compromising its flood control function, and
WHEREAS,additional water storage should be pursuaed through a reallocation project for
the improvement and rehabilitation of existing structures, and
WHEREAS, the reallocation project at Chatfield Reservoir will:
a. Allow water originating from snowmelt and storm water runoff within the South
Platte River Basin to be stored in Chatfield Reservoir.
b. Provide additional water for Northeast Colorado farmers, including those in Weld
County, to help meet critical irrigation needs.
c. Help several water providers meet drinking water and other municipal needs, both
above and below Chatfield Reservoir.
d. Provide opportunities for environmental and recreational enhancements along the
South Platte River in the 53-mile urban corridor from Chatfield Reservoir to below
the Adams-Weld County line, and
WHEREAS,the majority of participants in the reallocation project have existing water rights
that provide for the capture, storage, and use of water available to the South Platte River above
Denver without injury to other water rights, and
WHEREAS, the municipal participants in the reallocation project have implemented, and
will continue to implement, measures to increase the benefits of water savings through water
conservation programs and reuse projects, and
2007-1019
BC0037
en ; cl t23[.aL,O7
WHEREAS, the 15 participants in the reallocation project and the state of Coloradom
through the Colorado Water Conservation Board ("CWCB"), have contributed more than $1.5
million in a cooperative regional effort, and
WHEREAS, Colorado law recognizes the right to capture, store, and move water from
where it flows to where it is needed, and
WHEREAS, Section 6 of Article XVI of the Colorado Constitution says: "The right to divert
the unappropriated waters of any natural stream to beneficial uses shall never be denied.", and
WHEREAS,the once-in-a-generation opportunity to expand the use of the existing Chatfield
Reservoir facility enjoys broad support from municipal, agricultural, and environmental interests,
and
WHEREAS,the CWCB and the USAGE have jointly sponsored and are presently engaged
in the Chatfield Reservoir reallocation feasibility study and envoronmental impact statement
process to determine the best way of reallocating existing flood protection storage space to other
uses, and
WHEREAS, for the above-stated reasons, the Board wishes to express its support for the
Chatfield Reservoir reallocation project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld
County, Colorado, that it hereby expresses its support for the Chatfield Reservoir reallocation
project.
The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by
the following vote on the 11th day of April, A.D., 2007.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
1:11/1, WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
ATTEST: ate ' �� EXCUSED
David E. Long, Chair
Weld County Clerk to th
/� r� �., l ti William J ke, P - em
BY: �
De• ty CI: to the Boa . C,
William F. Garcia
APP ED AS F M: EXCUSED
Robert D. Masden
ounty Attorney ce„
,I Douglas Rddemacher
Date of signature: 4117/07
2007-1019
BC0037
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