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Harry C. LaBonde, Jr., PE, Director 
6920 Yellowtail Rd, Cheyenne, WY 82002 
Phone: 307-777-7626 

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1997 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
Active Projects

 70. PROJECT:Rawlins Water Supply
LEVEL:New Application
SPONSOR:City of Rawlins
LOCATION:Carbon County
PROGRAM:New Development
  
EXISTING LEGISLATION:
Purpose Chapter Session Account Appropriation Due Date
Level I 10 1994 I $250,000 1996

PROJECT INFORMATION:
As part of the master plan prepared for the Town of Sinclair, the Level I consultant (States West Water Resources Corp.) also evaluated potential improvements to the City of Rawlins' Fort Steele Pipeline to serve both Sinclair and Rawlins. The Ft. Steele line is poor condition and maintenance is becoming extremely costly. The report recommended complete replacement of the line. Depending upon the option chosen and the eventual use of the water, replacement will cost between $6,000,000 and $12,000,000. The City of Rawlins has a water right for 1.3 million gallons per day from the North Platte River. The city believes the water from the Fort Steele pipeline could be used to attract growth and may (with pretreatment) provide better water quality to the water treatment plant eliminating taste and odor problems. The City of Rawlins is served by springs on Sage Creek that are adequate to meet existing needs. Raw water is conveyed to a storage reservoir near town and treated in a Diatomaceous Earth Plant. The city has experienced taste and odor problems during summer months and has asked the Farm Loan Board to fund additional development of the springs on Sage Creek. It appears the algae growth in the reservoir in conjunction with the existing treatment process has resulted in unacceptable water quality.

The City of Rawlins has requested a Level II study to evaluate possible improvements to their Sage Creek spring collector system, the Fort Steele pipeline, and the water treatment plant. Funding options will be also be assessed. The Level II study will:

  1. Further evaluate the options for replacing the Fort Steele Pipeline, expanding the Sage Creek spring collection system, and treating the two water supplies.

  2. Refine project cost estimates, economic analyses, and financing/repayment options for the needed improvements.

  3. Evaluate the potential for alternate uses (raw water for irrigation of parks, industrial use, marketing, etc.).

RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
The WWDC recommends the project be incorporated in the New Development Program at Level II with an appropriation of $120,000.

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