Regional Watershed Supply Project (RWSP) EIS

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EIS STATUS

EIS Milestone Completed

Initial Notice 20-Mar-09

Scoping 16-Feb-10

EIS Terminated 14-Jul-11

Regional Watershed Supply Project
Environmental Impact Statement (RWSP EIS)
Aaron Million: Proposed Water Supply Pipeline
From Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Wyoming to Colorado

The Corps terminated the RWSP EIS on July 14, 2011.
For related information, please refer to the public notice
found here.

All information below, displayed on this page
before the study was terminated, will remain available
until July 14, 2012 for historical reference and context.

Introduction
The US Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, (Corps) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the environmental consequences of the proposed Regional Watershed Supply Project (RWSP).

The RWSP is proposed by Million Conservation Resource Group (MCRG), a private water development entity. MCRG proposes to withdraw approximately 250,000 acre-feet (AF) of water annually from the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Wyoming, and transport it by pipeline to existing and proposed new reservoirs in southeastern Wyoming and the Front Range of Colorado.

What is an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)?
An environmental impact statement (EIS) is a document required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for federal government agency actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment."

Although the Corps is not proposing, designing, funding or constructing the RWSP, the RWSP will require a Section 404 Permit, which is a federal permit required under the Clean Water Act administered by the Corps. Because a Section 404 Permit is required, the Corps is the lead federal agency managing the EIS process.

The NEPA process is designed to involve the public and gather the best available information regarding the project so decision makers can be fully informed when they make their choices. An EIS describes the positive and negative environmental effects of proposed agency action - and cites alternative actions.

The components of the EIS process are public involvement, scoping, preparation of a Draft EIS, and preparation of a Final EIS and Record of Decision. The Draft EIS is estimated to be released in 2016 and the Final EIS in 2018.

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US Army Corps of Engineers Involvement with the EIS
The Corps, through requirements contained in Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, regulates activities involving the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S. Any individual or agency, public or private, must receive authorization from the Corps before conducting such discharges, and documentation of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) must occur before a permit may be issued. For projects where the potential impacts to the environment are significant, an EIS is required.

Under Section 404, any person has the right, at any point in time, to apply for a permit. The Corps role in this process is to develop a thorough study that can guide the agency in making an informed decision about whether to approve or deny the permit. The Corps is neither an opponent nor a proponent of any project that must undergo the permit process.

In the case of the RWSP, many have questioned why the Corps began the EIS process without having definitively determined the amount of water available for use in Colorado under the Colorado River Compacts, or without definitively knowing who would use the water.

After working with MCRG, as well as coordinating with the Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Land Management, for more than one and a half years, the Corps determined that the project requires an EIS, and that now is the correct time to begin the NEPA process. Preparation of the EIS is being funded by MCRG, through payment of a third-party contractor who is under the direct supervision of the Corps.

In defining a project purpose, the Corps must comply with NEPA. The project purpose is commonly referred to as the purpose and needs statement. The NEPA process gives the public the opportunity to comment on the proposed project’s impacts, potential mitigation measures and the potential alternatives to be analyzed during the development of the EIS. The Corps reviews and considers public comments when developing the purpose and needs statement. The Corps then uses that statement to evaluate alternatives, and independently verify the project’s need. Critical questions, such as how much water is available and who will use the water, will be answered through the NEPA process. Those questions must be answered before the Corps determines whether to approve or deny the permit.

    MCRG submits water user information to Corps 20-Jan-10
    Corps requests additional info from MCRG 31-Jul-09
    Why the Corps is preparing an EIS 14-Apr-09

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Cooperating Agencies
    US Bureau of Reclamation.
    US Forest Service – Ashley National Forest.
    US Environmental Protection Agency.
    National Park Service.
    State of Colorado – Department of Natural Resources.
    State of Wyoming – Wyoming Water Development Office.
    State of Utah – Public Lands Policy Coordination Office.
    Moffat County, Colorado.
    Daggett County, Utah.
    Uintah County, Utah.
    Sweetwater County, Wyoming.
    Sweetwater County Conservation District, Wyoming.
    City of Green River, Wyoming.
    City of Rock Springs, Wyoming.

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Project Description
The proposed RWSP would make new water supply available for use by municipalities, agriculture, and industries in southeastern Wyoming and the Front Range of Colorado.

Withdrawal Facilities - Two water withdrawal facilities would be used, one on east side of Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Wyoming and the other on the east bank of the Green River in Wyoming approximately 200 feet downstream of the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming. The total right-of-way (ROW) width would be 200 feet (100 feet construction and 100 feet permanent).

Withdrawal Volumes - The total estimated annual volumes from the two diversion points are approximately 165,000 AF from Flaming Gorge Reservoir and 85,000 AF from the Green River during a dry year. The Green River volumes would increase to approximately 157,000 AF in an average year and 195,000 AF in a wet year. These withdrawal rates are estimates based upon historical streamflow conditions during the 1971 to 2007 period of record; therefore, the future effects of increased depletions in Wyoming upstream of the withdrawal facilities have not been considered at this time.

Pipeline System - Water pipeline system (approximately 578 miles in length with diameters of 72 to 120 inches) would extend from the withdrawal points to southeastern Wyoming and the Front Range of Colorado between the Wyoming-Colorado state line and Pueblo.

Pump Stations - Approximately 16 natural gas-powered pump stations would be located along the pipeline route. The total ROW width would be 20 acres (10 acres construction and 10 acres permanent). (Pump Station Details)

Valves - Three types of appurtenance valves (air release/vacuum, isolation, and drain) would be located along the pipeline route. All valves would be located within the permanent ROW.

Access Roads -Temporary (construction phase) and permanent (operation and maintenance phase) access roads would be required. Specific roads will be identified during project design.

Water Storage - Three water storage reservoirs (Lake Hattie (69,000 AF capacity) in Wyoming, proposed Cactus Hill Reservoir (185,000 AF capacity) near Fort Collins, Colorado, and new reservoir (25,000 AF capacity) to be constructed near Pueblo, Colorado would be utilized as storage reservoirs.

Electrical Power - On-site transformers and overhead power lines from local electrical grids would be used as power sources for the water withdrawal and storage reservoir facilities.

Water Delivery Systems – Specific water users and water delivery systems from the storage reservoirs will be determined.

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Maps and Diagrams
   Overall Project Location Map (MCRG's preferred pipeline route)
    Overview of Alternative Diversion Points & Pipeline Routes near Flaming Gorge Reservoir
    Alternative Diversions
        Flaming Gorge Reservoir East Bank Diversion
        Flaming Gorge Reservoir West Bank Diversion
        Green River Diversion
        Seedskadee Diversion
    Alternative Reservoirs
        West End Retention Reservoir (Near Green River, WY)
        Lake Hattie Reservoir (Near Laramie, WY)
        Proposed Cactus Hill Reservoir (Near Fort Collins, CO)
        Proposed T-Cross Reservoir (Near Pueblo, CO)

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Public Scoping
What is public scoping? Public Scoping is a process that allows for public participation with regard to identifying concerns and issues related to the preparation of and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). At the beginning of the RWSP EIS process, the Corps conducted scoping meetings to introduce the project proposal to the public, describe the process of the EIS, and solicit input on the issues and alternatives to be evaluated. The received comments were then summarized in a scoping report.

    Past Scoping Meetings
        April 14, 2009, Green River, WY
        April 15, 2009, Vernal, UT
        April 16, 2009, Laramie, WY
        April 20, 2009, Fort Collins, CO
        April 21, 2009, Denver, CO
        April 22, 2009, Pueblo, CO
        June 9, 2009, Rock Springs, WY
        June 10, 2009, Craig, CO
        June 11, 2009, Grand Junction, CO

        Public Scoping Brochure June 2009
        Public Scoping Meeting Posters and Maps

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Public Notices
    Public Notice #3 - Comment Period Extension to Sept 28, 2009   11-Aug-09
        Federal Register Notice of Intent 11-Aug-09
    Public Notice #2 - Comment Period Extension to July 27, 2009 add'l Public Scoping Mtgs 8-May-09
        Federal Register Notice of Intent 8-May-09
    Public Notice #1 - Comment Period and Public Scoping Mtgs 20-Mar-09
        Federal Register Notice of Intent 20-Mar-09

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For Further EIS Information on the RWSP, Contact:
Rena J. Brand (303) 979-4120 or Monique Farmer (402) 995-2417 or Toll Free 1-888-835-5971
Or send an E-Mail to: MCRG.EIS@usace.army.mil

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