| Project Scope:
HKM Engineering, Inc. retained
Pedersen Planning Consultants to provide various planning
services associated with its Level 1 Water Study of the City of
Buffalo, Wyoming municipal water system and the Sheridan Area
Water System in Johnson County, Wyoming. The potential use of
water from Lake DeSmet, a surface reservoir situated in northern
Johnson County, was also examined by HKM as a potential surface
supply that could support one or both of the municipal water
systems.
PPC initially evaluated and
forecasted potential land uses in northern Johnson County and
most of Sheridan County for a 10-year planning horizon. PPC
identified roughly 20 potential land use expansion areas and
about 40 land use expansion areas in northern Johnson County.
These were determined from an analysis of regional land use
trends, soil characteristics, and discussions with selected
municipal and county officials. Anticipated land uses,
densities and resident population were calculated for each land
use expansion area. PPC also calculated average day and maximum
day demands for each land use expansion area.
Population forecasts and land use
development assumptions, as well as water demand forecasts for
the Buffalo water system, were subsequently input to hydraulic
water models by HKM Engineering, Inc. and States West Water
Resources Corporation. Information generated from the
hydraulic models, as well as earlier population and land use
expansion forecasts, were also used by PPC to evaluate the
service area boundaries associated with both the City of Buffalo
and regional Sheridan Area Water System.
PPC also participated in the
assessment of the impact of the proposed development of water
resources in the vicinity of Lake DeSmet by MidAmerican Energy.
This evaluation also considered the multiple interests of
MidAmerican Energy, the Lake DeSmet Counties Coalition Joint
Powers Board (LDCC), and public recreation uses.
PPC also participated in the
evaluation of potential markets for the lease of surface water
from Lake DeSmet. Potential marketing opportunities focused
upon the water rights owned by the Lake DeSmet Counties
Coalition Joint Powers Board. Surface water lease rates from
various water utilities in Colorado, Idaho, and Wyoming were
examined for the 2000-2005 period to help determine potential
surface water lease rates for LDCC. |
