Arkansas Valley Conduit

The Southeastern Colorado Water Activity Enterprise (SECWAE) will be constructing the AVC through procurement of several construction contracts determined as funding is secured. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is leading the efforts for the construction of the main or trunk line from Pueblo to Lamar. 

SECWAE is leading the construction efforts for all of the spur and delivery lines that will connect the trunk line with service to the participants. The construction contract of the first six miles of the trunk line beginning on the east side of Pueblo has been awarded and construction may begin by the end of this year.  It is anticipated that the next segment of the trunk line will be out for bids by mid to late 2023 with subsequent bid packages issued again as funding allows. 

SECWAE is currently in the design phase for the spurs and delivery lines.  The first bid package for the spurs and delivery lines will be issued by Spring, 2023.  We anticipate several additional bid packages going out starting in late 2023 through the end of 2024.  The goal is to have the spurs and delivery line construction completed by the end of 2026, with the trunk line construction completed by 2028-2029.

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Description

The Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC) is a 130-mile pipeline with spurs that would serve as many as 40 communities and 50,000 people east of Pueblo. It will deliver filtered water ready for treatment from Pueblo Reservoir. The AVC will supplement existing water supplies, which face state compliance issues because of salinity or radionuclide contamination. Most of the participants rely on groundwater and need a reliable supply of fresh water. 

History

The cities of the Lower Arkansas Valley in Colorado have awaited the construction of the AVC for decades. The AVC was authorized by Congress as part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project in 1962. It never was built largely because of the inability of participants to repay construction costs. In 2009, Congress amended the original Fry-Ark legislation. The amendment featured a cost-sharing plan with 65 percent federal and 35 percent local funding. The locally funded portion will be repaid by the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District (District) to the federal government over a period of 50 years.

 AVC Progress Report

Reclamation announced the first contract to begin construction of AVC on September 29, 2022, and construction will begin on the trunk line in the next few months.

The Bureau of Reclamation is building the trunk line of the AVC, while the Southeastern District will build spurs and delivery lines to water providers who are AVC participants.

AVC will use Fryingpan-Arkansas water or water from participants’ sources stored in Pueblo Reservoir.  Pueblo Water will treat the water and transmit it to a point at the east end of its system.

Participants will be connected to the AVC trunk line as it reaches their area. This will allow communities whose supplies are contaminated from radionuclides to receive clean drinking water years sooner than the completion of the entire AVC. Most of those communities are in Otero County, near the middle of the AVC route.    

Under the 2020 Project Management Plan, the AVC will reach Lamar by 2035. An expedited plan using federal infrastructure funding could move the completion date to as soon as 2028.

 Milestones

April 28, 2023 – Reclamation and the SEWCD celebrate the beginning of construction of the AVC with a groundbreaking attended by about 150 people.

September 29, 2022 – Reclamation announces the first construction contract for the AVC with WCA Construction LLC.

March 18, 2022 – A three-party contract between Reclamation, SECWAE and Pueblo Water will provide conveyance, treatment and transmission of AVC water to a point 15 miles from Pueblo Reservoir.

October 3, 2020 – AVC Ceremonial Groundbreaking Ceremony at Pueblo Dam.

June 29, 2020 – Colorado Governor Jared Polis signs a bill authorizing $90 million in loans and $10 million in grants for the AVC.

2020 - The AVC receives $28 million in federal funding to finish design and begin construction of the long-awaited pipeline. Funding since then totals $121million.

2014 – Reclamation issued a Record of Decision for the AVC, which established a route (Comanche North) and scope of work for the project. 

2013 – The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) completed a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the AVC.

2009 – P.L. 111-11 passed, allowing miscellaneous revenues (excess-capacity contract payments) from the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project to be applied to AVC construction and repayment. These payments will be available beginning in 2022 and initially total about $3.5 million annually, increasing in future years.

1962 – The AVC is authorized by Congress as part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project Act.