Southern Delivery System

Newsroom

•	Media contact: Corporate Communications 719-668-3848

Project Updates

•	Colorado Water Conservation Board Adopts SDS Fish and Wildlife Mitigtion Plan: A Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Plan (FWMP), developed in partnership with the Colorado Division of Wildlife for the Southern Delivery System (SDS), was adopted on May 19, 2010 by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB). With acceptance of the plan by the Colorado Wildlife Commission and the adoption by CWCB, the FWMP will serve as the state of Colorado’s official position on the wildlife mitigation activities required for the project. The plan was developed pursuant to state law and the Record of Decision (ROD). View eNews PDF Document

•	City Council approves initial water rate phase-in to fund SDS and current system: On May 11, the Colorado Springs City Council approved a phased-in water rate case that will fund initial construction of the Southern Delivery System (SDS) and costs for operating and maintaining the existing water system. Council voted 8-1 in favor of 12% water rate increases for 2011 and 2012. The change will add about $4.42 to the typical monthly residential bill starting in January 2011 and another $4.96 to the monthly bill beginning January 2012 – increasing the overall utilities bill by less than 3 percent each year. While not part of this rate case, similar adjustments will be needed through 2016. View eNews PDF Document

•	Quarterly Progress Update, April 2010: Several significant advancements for the Southern Delivery System (SDS) project were achieved in the first quarter of 2010. Construction for SDS – one of the largest and most important water projects underway in Colorado – is expected to begin later this year. April 2010 Quarterly Progress Update PDF Document.

•	Regional contractors to build Pueblo Dam connection for SDS: Colorado Springs Utilities has announced a regional team of contractors to build the Pueblo Dam connection for the Southern Delivery System (SDS). ASI Constructors Inc. – a nationally recognized firm headquartered in Pueblo County – was selected as the prime contractor. ASI Constructors Inc. specializes in the construction and rehabilitation of dams, spillways, and major water resource projects and plans to use several regional sub-contractors for the SDS dam connection project. Construction on the Pueblo Dam connection is scheduled to begin this summer and will take approximately one year to complete. View eNews PDF Document

•	El Paso County Planning Commission Approves SDS Location Approval Applications: On Tuesday, March 16, 2010, Colorado Springs Utilities received unanimous approval from the El Paso County Planning Commission on three additional location approval applications for the Southern Delivery System project. Planning Commission members approved applications for the Bradley Pump Station, Upper Williams Creek Reservoir, and the Exchange Flow Facilities including Williams Creek Reservoir. The Planning Commission approved applications for the raw- and treated-water pipelines on March 2. View Presentation PDF Document \| View eNews PDF Document

•	Colorado Wildlife Commission approves SDS Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Plan: On Thursday, March 11, 2010, Colorado Springs Utilities received unanimous approval from the Colorado Wildlife Commission on the Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Plan (FWMP) for the Southern Delivery System (SDS). The plan was developed in collaboration with the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) over the last year and outlines specific mitigation to address projected impacts to fish and wildlife as a result of SDS operations. The approval was made conditional on finalizing a draft Memorandum of Agreement to implement the plan with CDOW. Once the Agreement is finalized, CDOW will submit the plan on behalf of the SDS Project Participants to the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) for adoption. The FWMP was developed pursuant to provisions of state law and related requirements of the project’s Record of Decision issued by the Bureau of Reclamation. View Presentation PDF Document \| View Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Plan \| View eNews PDF Document

•	El Paso County Planning Commission approves pipeline permits for SDS: On March 2, 2010, the El Paso County Planning Commission voted unanimously in favor of location approval applications for the Southern Delivery System raw-water and finished-water pipelines. Last fall, a series of applications were submitted to El Paso County for Location Approval Permits for the project. View Presentation PDF Document \| View eNews PDF Document

•	SDS Reviews Draft Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Plan During Colorado Wildlife Commission Workshop: In compliance with the requirements of the Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision (ROD) and consistent with our commitment to build an environmentally responsible project, Colorado Springs Utilities has been working with the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) for nearly a year to develop a Draft Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Plan (FWMP) for the Southern Delivery System (SDS). The plan, which was presented to the Colorado Wildlife Commission Feb. 11, 2010, outlines projected impacts to fish and wildlife as a result of SDS operations and provides a blueprint to address those impacts. View eNews PDF Document

•	SDS Obtains Approval from Fountain Creek Watershed, Flood Control and Greenway District: The Southern Delivery System (SDS) achieved another approval on Jan. 22, 2010 with a vote in favor of its application submitted to the Fountain Creek Watershed, Flood Control and Greenway District. The District Board voted unanimously in support of the SDS project components that fall within the Fountain Creek Corridor and will recommend approval to the El Paso County Planning Commission for project facilities that are outside the Corridor but within the watershed in El Paso County. View Presentation PDF Document \| View eNews PDF Document

•	In January 2010, Colorado Springs Utilities provided Pueblo County a report of our annual expenditures for wastewater system improvements to fulfill a commitment made in one of the permit conditions. We committed to spending $75 million to improve wastewater and reuse systems between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2024. In 2009 alone, Colorado Springs Utilities spent close to $9 million of the $75 million on these programs, including repairs or rehabilitation of 108,000 feet of sewer pipe and rehabilitation of 131 manholes. In addition to this progress on commitments for the 1041 permit, Colorado Springs Utilities invested another $12.8 million in 2009 on improvements to large diameter wastewater pipes and sanitary sewer creek crossing projects in accordance with a state compliance order which is nearly complete. Read full report.

•	Quarterly Progress Update, December 2009. Looking back on 2009, we achieved numerous milestones for the Southern Delivery System. The project team continues work to clear the final hurdles needed before construction can begin in 2010. Dec. 2009 Quarterly Progress Update PDF Document.

•	Quarterly Progress Update, July 2009. After more than a decade of planning, public process and permitting, we have been given the green light to implement the Southern Delivery System. Quarterly Progress Update PDF Document.

•	Utilities Board Approves Moving Forward With SDS: The Colorado Springs Utilities Board today approved moving forward with the Preferred Alternative – a pipeline beginning at Pueblo Dam – for the Southern Delivery System (SDS). View Presentation PDF Document \| View eNews PDF Document

•	Smoother sailing for once-contentious project. When it was up for federal approval, Colorado Springs Utilities’ proposed water pipeline from Pueblo Reservoir drew more than 400 comments for and against the project. Times. have changed. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is considering the last major permit for the Southern Delivery System, under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, because pipeline construction will impact 14.2 acres of streams and wetlands. The public comment period ended Friday and 13 people and organizations – 12 against, one in favor – submitted comments, a possible sign that people see the once-controversial project as a foregone conclusion, since the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Pueblo County have both approved it. The Gazette, June 23, 2009. PDF Document.

•	Quarterly Progress Update, April 2009. In the past quarter, we have reached several truly historic milestones for the Southern Delivery System. Quarterly Progress Update PDF Document.

•	Upper Williams Creek Reservoir: One of the benefits of the Southern Delivery System will be a new water storage reservoir offering recreational opportunities in close proximity to Colorado Springs. The SDS Preferred Alternative terminal water reservoir would be located on Upper Williams Creek just 14 miles southeast of downtown Colorado Springs. . . . . . (more)

•	Pueblo County issues 1041 permit for SDS: On April 21, 2009, the Pueblo Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to issue a 1041 land-use permit for the Southern Delivery System Preferred Alternative. Bruce McCormick, Colorado Springs Utilities Chief Water Services Officer, expressed Colorado Springs’ gratitude to Pueblo County for a fair and open process. “This agreement paves the way for several communities in southern Colorado to come together,” he said. . . . . (more)

•	Colorado Springs City Council Votes to Recognize Pueblo County Permit Conditions: On April 14, 2009, the Colorado Springs City Council voted 8-1 in favor of a resolution to formally recognize the commitments in the terms and conditions of the Pueblo County 1041 land-use permit. The resolution will preserve our ability to construct the Southern Delivery System (SDS) Preferred Alternative - a pipeline from Pueblo Reservoir. . . . (more)

•	On March 23, 2009, the Bureau of Reclamation announced its release of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Southern Delivery System (SDS) – completing its review of the $1.1 billion water project under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). “This is a critical milestone toward making the Southern Delivery System, and the water it will provide for our future, a reality,” said Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera. “Reclamation’s review of SDS was lengthy, thorough and complete and we will construct a better project as a result.” “With the approval of our land use permit in Fremont County and approval by the Pueblo County Commissioners of the conditions for the Pueblo 1041 Permit, the issuance of the ROD brings us even closer to making SDS a reality,” said John Fredell, SDS Project Director . . . . (more)

•	Pueblo County Approves SDS 1041 Permit: The Pueblo County Board of County Commissioners voted 3-0 on March 18, 2009, to approve a 1041 land-use permit with its staff recommended terms and conditions for the Southern Delivery System (SDS) project in Pueblo County. “This has been an extensive and thorough public process,” said John Fredell, SDS Project Director. “The unanimous vote from the County Commissioners is a historic milestone for the project and a testament to the significant work by many individuals to reach an agreement that has the potential to benefit both communities.” The permit for the SDS Preferred Alternative – a pipeline from Pueblo Reservoir – was approved with staff recommended terms and conditions. Major conditions include Colorado Springs’ mitigation of impacts to Fountain Creek from SDS by funding $50 million to the new Fountain Creek Watershed District or similar entity for erosion, sedimentation, flood control or water quality improvement projects. In addition, Colorado Springs would invest $75 million in planned improvements to its wastewater collection system or reuse systems by 2024. The proposed terms and conditions are now subject to review and acceptance by the Colorado Springs City Council through a public process. Pending Colorado Springs’ approval, Pueblo County officials indicated they are prepared to take final action as early as April 2. Fredell added that “I want to caution that this doesn’t mean construction is imminent. This means we are closer to having two viable options for our management and Council to analyze and decide which is in the best interest of our customers.”