SEP 23 1977 LAW OFFICES OF VRANES H GEORGE VRANESH JOHN D. MUSICK, JR. AND MUSICK C. R. W. C. D. 2120 131!l STREET STEPHEN T. WILLIAMSON P. O. BOX 671 GLENWOOD SPRINGS orFlce: 1011 GRAND AVENUe: WAYNE B. SCHROEDER BOULDER, COLORADO 80306 ALAN E. SCHWARTZ TELEPHONE 303/443-6ISI RICHARD L. FETTER LOYAL E. LEAVENWORTH September 22, 1977 Glenwood Springs JOSEPH A. COPE ROBERT F. T. KRASSA P. O. BOX 1366 GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO. 61601 TELEPHONE 303/945 -7647 OF' COUNSEL DAVID P. PHILLIPS Board of Directors Colorado River Water Conservation District P. O. Box 1120 Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81601 Re: Snowmass Project Dear Directors: On behalf of the City Council of the City of Aspen and the Board of County Commissioners of Pitkin County I am ~lriting to formally request that the C.R.W.C.D. Snowmass Project (adjudicated in Civil Action 5884, 11/5/71) be assigned to the City of Aspen and Pitkin County for a period of 6 years. The Snowmass Project consists of the following features: a. The Paepcke Forebay - the forebay is designed to hold 4760 acre feet of water, including 3852 acre feet of dead storage. The site is on the Roaring Fork River just West of the City of Aspen and East of the confluence of Brush Creek and the Roaring Fork River. b. The Gerbaz Conduit - The Gerbaz conduit will divert 300 cfs from the Roaring Fork River at the head of the outlet works of the dam forming the Paepcke Forebay, and carry said water into the Pabst Reservoir. c. The Pabst Reservoir - The Pabst Reservoir is decree9 for 73,644 acre feet, including 6,939 acre feet of dead storage. The source of supply is Snowmass .- " . Board of Directors CRWCD PAGE TWO September 22, 1977 Creek and water diverted from the Roaring Fork R~ver through the Gerbaz conduit. d. The Pabst Power Conduit - This. conduit is located at the head of the darn forming the Pabst Reservoir and is adjudicated for 600 cfs from Snmvrnass Creek and will also utilize water carried in the Gerbaz Conduit and stored in the Pabst Reservoir. The Snowmass Project is decreed for irrigation, domestic, municipal, industrial, recreational and power uses with a priority date of November 5, 1965. TheSno\vrnass Project is located entirely in Pitkin County and is in close proximity to the City of Aspen. The City of Aspen owns and operates a municipal water supply system serving residents of the City as well as customers outside the corporate limits. Demands on the City's municipal water system continue to increase dramatically. The demand and need outside the City's service area is also acute. The City cooperates and works closely with the County concerning City actions beyond the City limits. And, the City and County have been discussing a cooperative joint effort to deal with future extensions of the municipal \vater supply system outside the existing service area. It is readily apparent that the City of Aspen and Pitkin County are the logical entities to pursue the development of the Snowmass Project. Although current public opinion is not supportive of the Project, the elected officials and administrative staff of the City and County desire to insure that the future needs of the area will be met. Both the City and County recognize their obligations to future citizens and the need to plan for the future. Furthermore, the City and County realize that all available options that may be needed in the future should be preserved and protected. Thus, the City of Aspen and Pitkin County respectfully request that the Board of Directors of the Colorado River Water Conservation District assign the Snowmass Project to the City and County for a 6 year term for the following purposes: ยท .,. Board of Directors CRWCD PAGE THREE September 22, 1977 1. The City and County will undertake to study the desirability and integration of the Snowmass Project into the municipal water supply system and evaluate the needs of the areas capable of being served, both actual and potential. 2. The City and County will undertake studies of the hydroelectric potential and feasibility of the Project, including the coordination of the power aspects of the Project with the City's water rights decreed for pO\Aler generation uses. 3. The City and County will file an Application For Finding of Reasonable Diligence when the current Quadrennial period expires. 4. The City and County will defend the Project against possible injury that might result from the actions of other water users to insure the value and feasibility of the Project are not diminished. The City and County believe this pro?osal is in the best interests of all concerned and provides .the framework for the ultimate development of the Snowmass Project. On behalf of the City of Aspen and Board of County Commissioners, I urge you to consider this proposal. Should the Board desire, I would be happy to discuss this further at your next quarterly meeting. Very truly yours, VRANESH AND MUSICK LEL:aw cc: Mr. Kenneth Balcornb Mr. Roland C.Fischer Mr. Fitzhugh Scott III Sandra M. Stuller Philip S. Mahoney Dorothy Nuttall Aspen City Council Board of County Commissioners George Ochs, County Mgr.