News Release Archive

Reclamation Announces Final Environmental Assessment for Ruedi Contracting

Media Contact: Kara Lamb, (970) 962-4326, klamb@usbr.gov

For Release: August 02, 2013

LOVELAND, Colo. -- The Bureau of Reclamation is pleased to announce the availability of the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for 17 contracts for water out of Ruedi Reservoir.

Comments received from the public helped Reclamation identify issues relevant to the proposed contracts and elements of the environment that could be affected.

Both environmental documents can be found on-line at: www.usbr.gov/gp/ecao/nepa/ruedi_repayment.html

Reclamation prepared an Environmental Assessment in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act on site specific effects of 17 West Slope contracts along with the administrative action of amending 31 existing Ruedi Round I and II contracts to remove the expiration date and confirm their status as perpetual repayment contracts.

Ruedi Reservoir is part of the federal Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. The reservoir helps compensate Colorado's West Slope for project diversions made further upstream in the Fryingpan River Basin and also provides storage for West Slope use. Reclamation began marketing Ruedi water to the West Slope in 1982. In 2012, Reclamation received requests from 17 West Slope entities for the remaining 19,585.5 acre-feet of available contract water in the marketable pool.

For additional information on Ruedi Reservoir, the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, or the NEPA Process, please contact Kara Lamb, Public Information Officer, at (970) 962-4326 or klamb@usbr.gov.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

Eastern Colorado Area Office Home Page