By Justin George
Camera Staff Writer

Plans for a pipeline critical to drought-hampered Lafayette's future water service were approved by Boulder County officials Thursday.

The 4.7-mile, $5-million "75th Street pipeline" project is expected to connect Lafayette's Goose Haven Reservoir to Boulder Creek and could one day shuttle between 13 to 25 percent of the water to which Lafayette owns rights.

Because the pipe would run through unincorporated portions of Boulder County, the Board of Boulder County Commissioners reviewed the plans.

The 75th Street pipeline grew out of a five-year dispute between Boulder and Lafayette over the Anderson irrigation ditch.

Lafayette originally filed suit against Boulder-controlled Anderson Ditch Co. over Lafayette's rights to use the ditch to carry water to its water system.

The city accused Boulder of violating an agreement by not sending enough water through the ditch to fill Baseline Reservoir, which is owned by Lafayette. Boulder countered by saying too much water running through the ditch could make it overflow, causing damage to homes, buildings and roads.

The feud resulted in at least $1 million in legal fees for each city before both sides struck an out-of-court settlement last year.

Boulder agreed to move its wastewater treatment plant discharge point east, downstream on Boulder Creek from the 75th Street bridge. Lafayette agreed to build the pipeline instead of relying on Anderson Ditch.

Commissioners on Thursday told Lafayette to try and change some of the pipe's route to avoid some environmentally sensitive areas.

"There should be a very serious effort made to find a different route," Commissioner Ron Stewart said, adding that the city should not just plot "the path of least resistance."

Commissioners also wanted Lafayette to direct less water into the pipeline than city officials had hoped for. "We're getting less water than anticipated," Public Works Director Doug Short said.

Construction of the pipeline could begin in November or in fall 2003, depending on Lafayette obtaining several permits it needs.

Contact Justin George at (303) 473-1359 or georgej@thedailycamera.com.

May 24, 2002

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