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

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2003 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
Active Projects

 75. PROJECT:Little Snake River Small Dams and Reservoirs Phase II
LEVEL:Level III
SPONSOR:Little Snake River Conservation District
LOCATION:Carbon County
PROGRAM:New Development
  
EXISTING LEGISLATION:
Purpose Chapter Session Account Appropriation Due Date
Level III 88 2002 I 500,000* 2007
*60% grant, 40% Loan (6.0%, 25 years)

PROJECT INFORMATION:
The 1999 Water Development Omnibus Construction legislation authorized $215,000 for the purpose of building from one to twelve small dams and reservoirs to improve range and grazing conditions in the area. The total estimated volume of water impounded by the twelve reservoirs would be approximately 2,636 acre-feet and will service a total area of 9,780 acres of rangeland. Construction of the 12 dams was initially estimated to be in the range of $2,254,650.

With the first appropriation of $215,000, design on three dams was completed along with the purchase of spillway piping, outlet and inlet materials for two dams and the construction of a single dam and reservoir. An additional $50,000 was included in the 2000 Water Development Omnibus Construction legislation to allow the completion of construction on the second dam and reservoir site. The cost for the design, construction and engineering inspection of the two dams and reservoirs is approximately $1,670 per acre-foot.

The district has been instrumental in substantially lowering the overall project costs by undertaking the securing of permits from the Corps of Engineers, the DEQ Water Quality Division, the State Engineer's Office and the Bureau of Land Management.

The 2002 legislative session appropriated an additional $500,000 to continue the design and construction of four additional dams and reservoirs from the original list of twelve dams and reservoirs identified as being economically viable and feasible to construct. The dams/reservoirs include: Brown's Hill 21, Garden Gulch 3, Garden Gulch 32, and Ketchum Buttes 34. The four dams are estimated to provide over 425 acre-feet of storage capacity.

In order to qualify for Water Development Program funding, the Little Snake River Conservation District must provide sufficient collateral to secure the loan. The current appropriation provides for a $200,000 loan and a $300,000 grant. Collateral has been established in the form of an escrow account in the Rawlins National Bank with a current balance of over $202,500. During 2002, initial permitting activities and geotechnical drilling was undertaken by the Sponsor. Construction on the first reservoir is anticipated to begin during the Spring of 2003.

Since the sites are located on BLM lands, maintenance of the currently constructed dams and reservoirs is being assumed by the Bureau of Land Management under operating agreements between the BLM and the district. Maintenance of additional dams and reservoirs constructed will be handled in a similar manner.

RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
No legislative action is required.

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