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Old Dillon Reservoir, located between the Dam Road and Interstate 70, was constructed between 1936-1939 to supply water to Dillon at its original location. Since the town moved to its current site in the early 1960s, the reservoir has been used predominantly for recreation. In 2008, the reservoir was drained for safety reasons.
DILLON — To firm up a $1.5 million loan from the Colorado Water Conservation Board for the expansion of the Old Dillon Reservoir, the Dillon Town Council passed an emergency ordinance at Tuesday's bi-monthly meeting.
The town moved quickly to access the loan from the state because Devin Granbery, the town manager, said he's unsure if more funding for water projects will be available in the near future due to a state budget crunch.
Water supplies created by a reservoir expansion will create an alternative supply of drinking water if the Straight Creek drainage area — Dillon's major water source — is ever polluted or dries up. The project will include reservoir enlargement, associated improvements, wetlands mitigation and rehabilitation of outlets to the reservoir.
“Water is vital to our interest,” said Mayor Barbara Davis. “It was a wake-up call after the 2002 drought.”
Though Dillon has the option to use water in an emergency from Silvethorne because of a pipe interconnection, it's a last-resort option that shouldn't ever have to be used after the Old Dillon Reservoir expansion.
Passing the emergency ordinance will “secure our water coffers and secure the future growth of Dillon,” Davis said.
The reservoir, when full, holds 62 acre feet of water. Originally, it was thought to hold 46 acre feet. The expansion will increase the reservoir's water capacity to about 286 acre feet.
The total cost estimate for the expansion is $6.3 million, and it will be shared respectively between Dillon, Silverthorne and Summit County. In all, Dillon is responsible for paying $1.7 million.
While Dillon pursued a loan to finance 90 percent of its portion of the reservoir expansion, Silverthorne and the county plan to pay for the project with reserved internal funds. Dillon will pay the rest of its costs through its water fund.
The U.S. Forest Service is still evaluating the project's permit application — the reservoir is found on Forest Service land — and project bids could go out later this year if the plan is approved. Construction could then start in 2010.
Caitlin Row can be reached at (970) 668-4633 or at crow@summitdaily.com.
The town moved quickly to access the loan from the state because Devin Granbery, the town manager, said he's unsure if more funding for water projects will be available in the near future due to a state budget crunch.
Water supplies created by a reservoir expansion will create an alternative supply of drinking water if the Straight Creek drainage area — Dillon's major water source — is ever polluted or dries up. The project will include reservoir enlargement, associated improvements, wetlands mitigation and rehabilitation of outlets to the reservoir.
“Water is vital to our interest,” said Mayor Barbara Davis. “It was a wake-up call after the 2002 drought.”
Though Dillon has the option to use water in an emergency from Silvethorne because of a pipe interconnection, it's a last-resort option that shouldn't ever have to be used after the Old Dillon Reservoir expansion.
Passing the emergency ordinance will “secure our water coffers and secure the future growth of Dillon,” Davis said.
The reservoir, when full, holds 62 acre feet of water. Originally, it was thought to hold 46 acre feet. The expansion will increase the reservoir's water capacity to about 286 acre feet.
The total cost estimate for the expansion is $6.3 million, and it will be shared respectively between Dillon, Silverthorne and Summit County. In all, Dillon is responsible for paying $1.7 million.
While Dillon pursued a loan to finance 90 percent of its portion of the reservoir expansion, Silverthorne and the county plan to pay for the project with reserved internal funds. Dillon will pay the rest of its costs through its water fund.
The U.S. Forest Service is still evaluating the project's permit application — the reservoir is found on Forest Service land — and project bids could go out later this year if the plan is approved. Construction could then start in 2010.
Caitlin Row can be reached at (970) 668-4633 or at crow@summitdaily.com.
