craigdailypress.com

Bidding for the expansion of Elkhead Reservoir should be opened this winter and construction could begin in early 2005, a Colorado River Water Conservation District official said Monday morning.

Most of the agreements between the major users of the reservoir have been finalized, said Dan Birch of the river district. Craig City Council reached an agreement with the river district last week, and Tri-State Transmission and Generation reached an agreement Monday morning, Birch said.

"These are agreements we need to put in place. There are five or six agreements nearing their final form," Birch said.

The river district will be the operator of the reservoir, but Craig will be responsible for the day-to-day maintenance, Birch said.

The expansion should increase the reservoir's storage capacity by 12,000-acre-feet, which will belong to the river district. Birch said the river district is interested in talking to those who want to lease water.

Water would be available for lease on a yearly basis, he said. That was good news to Moffat County Commissioner Darryl Steele, who said many agricultural interests would be unable to afford to lease water for more than one year. But on years when the Yampa River runs low, ranchers could rely on the reservoir to supplement their water needs.

The river district still needs to work on property acquisition, Birch said. The river district has sunk a new well for one affected landowner, and a fence has been built to mitigate trespassing on another landowner's property.

Some Colorado State Park land would be flooded by the expansion, and the river district will replace the flooded sites.

The reservoir will be partially drained next year.

"There will be enough water to support some fish but don't expect the same population," Birch said.

Public access to the reservoir will be closed during construction.

"When it's drained, it basically looks like the surface of the moon. It's not real attractive," Birch said.

The reservoir should be full again by 2007.

Rob Gebhart can be reached at 824-7031 or rgebhart@craigdailypress.com