SDS News Updates

Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel questioned Rep. Mark Udall’s (D-Colorado) call for a delay in the southern Delivery System (SDS) Environmental Impact Statement stating “it would be a mistake for Colorado Springs and its partner communities (Fountain, Security and Pueblo West).” . . . (more)

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The Colorado Springs City Council has approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Fremont County related to the permitting process for the Southern Delivery System (SDS) through that county. The Fremont County Commission unanimously approved the agreement on April 8. “This is a positive step forward for the project,” said John Fredell, SDS Project Director for Colorado Springs. The Agreement establishes an orderly process for Colorado Springs to work with Fremont County on review of proposals and reimbursement of costs incurred by Fremont County for the review of permit applications. It also states the parties will work together to identify and develop a mitigation plan that the City will implement to address impacts in Fremont County if the project is constructed there.  . . . (more)

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The Bureau of Reclamation’s decision to extend the public comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Southern Delivery System (SDS) is welcome news. “The Southern Delivery System is extremely important to the future of Colorado Springs, and the public has shown a great deal of interest in the project,” Fredell said. “Encouraging public comment is consistent with the approach we have taken throughout this process. And we hope members of the public will take advantage of the extra time to submit their comments and show their support.” . . . (more)

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The Fremont County Commission has approved a proposed intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the City of Colorado Springs related to the potential construction of the Southern Delivery System (SDS) pipeline through their county. The agreement would establish a process for Colorado Springs to work with Fremont County on review of proposals and reimbursement of costs incurred by Fremont County for the review of permit applications associated with the Southern Delivery System . . . (more)

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Mayor Lionel Rivera is encouraging Colorado Springs residents and businesses to submit letters to the Bureau of Reclamation supporting the Southern Delivery System (SDS). The Bureau of Reclamation has issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the project and fewer than 30 days remain to submit comments to the Bureau. To be considered, comments must be received by the Bureau by April 29. How and where to submit comments . . . (more)

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Leaders of the four communities partnering to build SDS have come together to support the regional importance of SDS. A print ad featuring Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera, Fountain Mayor Jeri Howells, Security Water Utility Board Chair Cap Proal and Pueblo West Metro Board Chair Butch Batchelder will appear soon in local newspapers. Look for the ads to see why SDS is important to these leaders.

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Mayor Rivera says Draft Environmental Impact Statement “important step forward”. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the Southern Delivery System (SDS) released February 29 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is “an important step toward making this critical project a reality,” says Lionel Rivera, Mayor of Colorado Springs. “We need the Southern Delivery System. Our future depends on it.” . . . . (more)

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Colorado Springs residents won’t have to drink recycled wastewater when the city expands its water system, the Interior Department’s Bureau of Reclamation has decided. Recycling was a possibility if the federal government decided to include reuse as an alternative to Colorado Springs Utilities’ Southern Delivery System proposal to pipe water from Pueblo Reservoir. The bureau spent the past 10 months studying six reuse options but rejected all of them because of the cost, which would be twice as much as a pipeline. It also determined that reuse is “less desirable from a standpoint of public health protection,” according to the bureau’s report, issued in late December. – Source: The Gazette, Jan. 14, 2008. . . . (more)

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Colorado Springs has filed an application in Division 2 Water Court to capture flood flows in current and future reservoirs in the Fountain Creek drainage and exchange water from releases at Pueblo Dam. The filing is an attempt to make better use of current reservoirs in Colorado Springs, as well as making more use of reservoirs proposed as part of the Southern Delivery System, said Brett Gracely, water resources manager. Source: Pueblo Chieftain, Jan. 12, 2008. . . . (more)

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Colorado Springs has appealed a November decision by Pueblo District Court Chief Judge Dennis Maes that the city’s proposed Southern Delivery System is subject to Pueblo County land-use regulations. . Source: Pueblo Chieftain, Jan. 11, 2008. . . . (more)

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