What's Happening with the Dry Gulch Project?
The PAWSD Board's stated philosophy with regard to the Dry Gulch Project is "We will not build it until we can afford it and until it is required by growth."
 In spring 2009, it became evident to the District that it would not receive the Capital Investment Fee and Water Resource Fee revenues it had budgeted for the year due to the local and national economic decline. The District decided to cease all expenditures planned for the project in 2009, except for what was absolutely necessary for public health and safety reasons, what was needed to complete minimal work already in progress from 2008, or what could be financed through grant revenues.
Certain environmental studies required for project permitting are being completed and are financed by a $60,000 grant to the San Juan Water Conservancy District from the Southwestern Water Conservation Distict. These studies include an inventory of historical and cultural sites/artifacts on the reservoir site and flora and fauna surveys at the reservoir site, along the raw water pipeline and at the diversion site.
Surveying and topographic mapping work, also required for land planning and permitting, will be completed in 2009 as well. The studies and surveying required for permitting are important to complete as early as possible, since it can take years to work through the permitting process of the various federal and state agencies.
Due to the urgent need, the largest expenditure on the Dry Gulch project for 2009 is an engineering analysis of the options for the raw water pipeline to circumvent the Jackson Mountain slide area. All potable water for the Town of Pagosa Springs and south Highway 84 areas is supplied by water from the West Fork of the San Juan river, approximately eight miles north of town. The raw water pipeline carries this water across Jackson Mountain and is thus vulnerable to the landslide activity there.
There are several options under consideration, including directional (borehole) drilling under the slide lens (approximately 40-50' below the surface) and rerouting the pipeline across the river. A final report and recommendation will be provided by MWH Americas, Inc. before the end of the year.
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