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Simulated Effects of Proposed Southern Delivery System Alternatives on Hydrodynamics and Water Quality of Pueblo Reservoir Using a Two-Dimensional Hydrodynamic and Water-Quality Model

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Simulated Effects of Proposed Southern Delivery System Alternatives on Hydrodynamics and Water Quality of Pueblo Reservoir Using a Two-Dimensional Hydrodynamic and Water-Quality Model, Pueblo, Colorado

Study Area: Pueblo Reservoir, Pueblo, Colorado
Period of Project: 2006-2007
Project Number: CEM00
Project Chief: David Mau
Cooperator: Bureau of Reclamation and Colorado Springs Utilities

BACKGROUND:

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential impacts from the proposed Southern Delivery System (SDS) project to provide additional water to the cities of Colorado Springs, Fountain, Security, and Pueblo West. Seven alternatives for in-depth analysis were chosen from the many options considered (SDS EIS newsletter, October 2005). Four of the seven alternatives involve diverting untreated water from Pueblo Reservoir, and four of the alternatives involve discharging treated effluent to the Arkansas River upstream of Pueblo Reservoir near Florence, Colorado. In addition, Pueblo West has plans to discharge treated effluent directly into Pueblo Reservoir. Operational changes as a result of implementation of these alternatives could change the hydrodynamics, trophic state and timing and extent of hypoxic/anoxic conditions in the reservoir and affect the water quality in the reservoir.

OBJECTIVES:

The overall objective of this study is to simulate potential changes in hydrodynamic and water-quality conditions of Pueblo Reservoir. Specifically, the objectives of this study are to evaluate potential hydrodynamic and water-quality effects to Pueblo Reservoir associated with the proposed SDS alternatives. The model developed for Pueblo Reservoir will be capable of simulating relative changes in reservoir water quality for each of the SDS alternatives. Constituents of concern include temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, nutrients, algae, bacteria, manganese, and iron. Information on other constituents of concern will be addressed by simulating transport of a neutrally buoyant conservative material, and a neutrally buoyant non-conservative material with a first-order decay rate.