Utilities Projects & Programs Carter Lake Pipeline
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Carter Lake PipelineThe Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (NCWCD) submitted a permit application for the Carter Lake Pipeline to be reviewed by Boulder County under the Areas and Activities of State Interest (1041) permitting process. In September 2009, Boulder County determined it would require the NCWCD to evaluate and present information on specific, less environmentally-damaging alternatives to the preferred alignment for the pipeline. City staff is waiting to finalize the Carter Lake Pipeline Community and Environmental Assessment Process (CEAP) until alignment issues are resolved, so that the potential community and environmental impacts can be accurately reflected in the CEAP.
Please visit Boulder County's website for complete information regarding Docket SI-11-0001: Southern Water Supply Pipeline II. BackgroundIn April 2003, the city initiated the Source Water Quality Planning Study - Phase I, which provided an overview of alternative approaches available to improve and protect source water quality. Due to the limitations of water treatment processes, protecting source water is a critical component of providing safe and reliable drinking water. Recommendations from the study included further consideration of the management of Boulder Reservoir and the construction of a pipeline from Carter Lake to the Boulder Reservoir Water Treatment Plant. The city participated in the Southern Water Supply Project II Feasibility Study in 2006 to evaluate the possibility of a pipeline from Carter Lake to the Boulder Reservoir Water Treatment Plant. The Carter Lake Pipeline (also called Southern Water Supply Project II) is a collaborative project between the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (NCWCD) and five northeastern Colorado municipal water providers, including Boulder. The proposed pipeline would carry water from the Colorado-Big Thompson and Windy Gap watersheds to the participating communities. The Carter Lake Pipeline is one of the preferred alternatives for securing long term water quality benefits for the Boulder Reservoir Water Treatment Plant. The city is continuing to collaborate with the NCWCD and other northeastern Colorado water providers by participating in the development of applications for various required federal, state and local permits required for the pipeline. One of the primary economic issues related to the pipeline is the estimated cost of $25 million. While the city is pursuing federal funding for the project, there must still be an appropriations request next year and, if successful, funding would not be forthcoming until 2009. A $10 million authorization was approved by the federal government in November 2007 as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007. There will also be short-term environmental impacts associated with the construction of the pipeline although the impacts will be appropriately mitigated. Marginally less water will flow through the Boulder Feeder Canal and Boulder Reservoir. This should not negatively affect the water quality or recreational opportunities in the Boulder Feeder Canal, Boulder Reservoir or lower Boulder Creek. In September 2007, the Water Resources Advisory Board (WRAB) approved a consensus proposal, which supports continuing work related to pipeline planning and funding, while evaluating other utility capital improvement and operating priorities. Project Documents
Last Updated on Friday, 29 March 2013 11:50 |
Carter Lake Pipeline power point presentation, City Council Study Session - July 2007