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3-24-09
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New! Record of Decision

On March 20, 2009, Reclamation signed a Record of Decision (ROD).

The Record of Decision (ROD) describes the alternative selected for implementation and the rationale for that decision.

Selected Alternative

The Southern Delivery System (SDS) Project is a proposed regional water delivery project designed to serve most or all of the Participants’ (City of Colorado Springs, City of Fountain, Security Water District and Pueblo West Metropolitan District) future water needs through 2046. As proposed, SDS would deliver Frying Pan-Arkansas (Fry-Ark) Project water and non-Fry-Ark Project water from the Arkansas River near the City of Pueblo to the Participants’ service areas.

    The proposed SDS Project area would extend northward from the Arkansas River from a pipeline at Pueblo Reservoir to the City of Colorado Springs. As proposed, SDS would include construction and operation of the following components:





  • Use of 42,000 ac-ft of existing excess storage capacity in Pueblo Reservoir if and when space is available
  • Use of existing Reclamation pipeline and outlet structures below Pueblo Dam to connect to an untreated water pipeline
  • Installation of 2,200 feet of 78-inch diameter pipeline capable of conveying 96 million gallons per day (mgd) and 1,100 feet of 72-inch diameter pipeline capable of conveying 78 mgd of untreated water
  • Installation of a 160-foot long, 36-inch diameter pipeline capable of conveying 18 mgd of untreated water to the existing Pueblo West Pump Station
  • Installation of a 49-mile long, 66-inch diameter pipeline and three pump stations capable of conveying 78 mgd of untreated water
  • Construction of a 30,500-ac-ft local terminal storage reservoir to store untreated water
  • Relocation of an electric transmission line and a liquid petroleum pipeline at the local terminal storage reservoir site
  • Construction of a water treatment plant, with capacity to treat up to 109 mgd of water, to provide potable water for municipal and industrial use
  • Installation of transmission pipelines to convey treated water from the water treatment plant to local water distribution systems
  • Construction of a 28,500-ac-ft return flow storage reservoir and an associated conveyance system to store Colorado Springs’ reusable return flows
  • Installation of a 4-mile long, 84-inch diameter buried pipeline capable of conveying 194 mgd of return flows west from Williams Creek Reservoir to Fountain Creek

Purpose and Need

The basic project purpose is to provide a safe, reliable and sustainable water supply for the Participants through the foreseeable future.

The Participants have three needs that SDS would fulfill:

  • To use developed and undeveloped water supplies to meet most or all projected future demands through 2046
  • To develop additional water storage, delivery, and treatment capacity to provide system redundancy
  • To perfect and deliver the Participants’ existing Arkansas River Basin water rights

Role of the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation)

Pueblo Reservoir and associated facilities are owned by the United States and operated by Reclamation. The use of these facilities by other entities for water storage or conveyance requires contracts with Reclamation. Execution of long-term contracts for the use of Reclamation facilities is the major Federal action analyzed in this Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Reclamation is the lead agency for the Federal action and is responsible for environmental evaluation and preparation of an EIS and a Record of Decision. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are cooperating agencies.

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