In 2013, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) completed an environmental impact statement (EIS) to construct and operate the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC), a project needed to deliver high-quality water to meet existing and future municipal and industrial water demands for communities in southeastern Colorado. The EIS analyzed more than 235 miles of proposed pipeline trunk and spurs, alternatives, and related infrastructure. ERO prepared the EIS under subcontract with MWH Americas (now Stantec).
As part of the EIS process, ERO was responsible for the evaluation of resource impacts and participated in consultation and coordination with cooperating agencies and the public. To support the EIS analysis of potential effects, ERO prepared a formal Class I overview for the AVC area of potential effect (APE) and developed a predictive model to estimate cultural resources in the absence of survey. ERO implemented an intensive reconnaissance cultural resources survey to test the predictive model, completed an intensive sample survey, and selected site reevaluations for the shared sections of the preferred and action alternatives. ERO assisted Reclamation with consultation and coordination with the State Historic Preservation Officer, Native American Tribes, and nongovernmental entities, and drafted the Section 106 Programmatic Agreement on behalf of Reclamation. ERO proposed and implemented an innovative approach to documenting and evaluating the many linear cultural resources within the APE, including documentation and evaluation of the entire resources at the county level, while providing integrity assessments for segments within the APE. Following the EIS record of decision and the selection of Comanche North as the alignment, ERO continued to support the project from 2014 to 2018 by completing cultural resource surveys for four phases of geotechnical activity totaling 282 locations along state and county rights-of-way. A summary report of all cultural resource investigations related to the AVC was completed in 2019.
ERO continues to support the AVC project by completing natural and cultural resource surveys and environmental site assessments for the spur delivery lines in Crowley County under subcontract to Kennedy Jenks and the Southeastern Water Conservancy District.
In addition to cultural resources, ERO conducted surveys for wetlands, rare plants, and wildlife along the entire pipeline alignment to support the impact analysis under the EIS. ERO also assisted Reclamation with coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife; prepared a biological assessment; prepared vegetation, wildlife, and wetland technical reports; and assisted with developing mitigation requirements for natural resources. ERO also supported the1041 permitting for the project.
For information on the current status of the AVC, please visit: https://www.secwcd.org/content/arkansas-valley-conduit