Estimated Economic Impacts of the Buckman Direct Diversion Project

The Buckman Direct Diversion (BDD) Project will provide an additional source of water supply for the Santa Fe area. It includes a diversion structure on the Rio Grande, pumping stations, pipelines and a new water treatment plant. The City of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County, with Las Campanas as a limited partner, are building the BDD to access San Juan-Chama Project water contracted to the City and the County and water associated with native Rio Grande water rights. The BDD water treatment plant will prepare the City and County water for use by residents and businesses. The design-build contractor is a joint venture between CH2M Hill and Western Summit Constructors. Construction began in September 2008 and will continue until the project is operational, expected before the summer in 2011. The project budget for the fiscal years commencing July 1, 2008, through project construction completion is $216 million. Prior to FY 08, professional services for planning, conceptual and preliminary design, compliance with federal environmental law, acquisition of state and federal permits, and competitive procurement of the design and build contractor cost an additional $13 million. (Authors: Lee Reynis, Dolewsar Bhandari, Andrew Webb)