PROJECT INFORMATION:
In 1990, the Bridger Valley Joint Powers Board requested assistance from
the WWDC in determining the feasibility of expanding the Board's service
area. The Joint Powers Board presently supplies water to the Towns of
Mountain View and Lyman; the Blacks Fork, Lower Bench and Fort Bridger
Water Districts; and 176 individual homes and businesses. Water users
not in the service area have no potable or poor quality water in limited
supplies. The Bridger Valley Joint Powers Board felt at that time they
had sufficient water rights and water treatment plant capacity to serve
additional users not included in the present service area.
In 1991, the WWDC completed the Level I study which evaluated the
possibility of serving additional areas. The areas identified as the
most likely to connect to the present system include: the area east of
Mountain View and south of Lyman; the area surrounding Millburne, which
is south of the Fort Bridger Water District and west of Mountain View;
and the area surrounding the Uinta County Highway Shop which is north of
the treatment plant. These areas were organized into the Pioneer Water
and Sewer District. The cost to connect the district to the present
system was estimated to be $3,440,000. The number of potential taps in
the district was estimated to be approximately 120. The costs to the
potential users to purchase water from the Board and repay the loans was
estimated at $60-$65 per month per tap.
Due to the Joint Powers Board's inability to provide the necessary loan
security, as the proposed project was outside its boundaries, the
Pioneer Water and Sewer District took over as the project sponsor.
In 1992, the Level II study defined the proposed transmission pipeline
alignment, provided mapping of the proposed alignment, investigated the
geologic conditions along that alignment, and reviewed the present water
treatment plant. The Level II study found that the Bridger Valley Joint
Powers Board system is operating at its maximum capacity and will need a
major upgrade to provide clean water to its current members in the very
near future. The Lyman Springs, which are a major component of the area
water supply, also became a concern due to the possibility of EPA
regulation.
In 1993, the sponsor requested an extension of the Level II study. This
Level II study extension would look at the possibility of a groundwater
source. This groundwater source could serve the Pioneer District and be
tied into the Bridger Valley Regional System as an additional water
supply. This additional study was to include a groundwater exploration
program and will provide conceptual plans and detailed cost estimates
for a groundwater supply system to serve the district or to serve the
regional system, depending on the results of the groundwater exploration
program.
In 1994, the Level II study determined that there is a surface water
connection problem with the Lyman Springs. The Lyman Springs
Rehabilitation project has been authorized for construction. In 1995, due
to the protests of the land owners in the area, the sponsors decided not to
pursue the groundwater exploration program. The joint powers board is
presently evaluating alternative improvements to the water treatment
plant.
RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
The WWDC recommends that the project be placed on Level II-Hold status.
