A new feasibility study on Star Gulch will be undertaken by the city as it looks at the future intended use of Rossland’s former main water storage facility.
City council has directed staff to seek grant funding opportunities to partially pay for the feasibility study (CBT Community Initiative Grant). In addition, the city has budgeted $8,000 in 2014 for the planning of the project and commissioning the feasibility study.
“Once the feasibility study is complete council will have a better understanding of costs associated with this initiative and will be able to budget accordingly,” read a city staff report from the Jan. 27 council meeting.
The feasibility study will identify issues regarding water safety, environmental implications, health and safety risks, accessibility, parking, landscaping and other relevant considerations.
The Official Community Plan and Active Transportation Plan speak to the considerations and support for this type of initiative.
Prior to the completion of the Ophir Reservoir in 2007 the Star Gulch Reservoir was the city's sole water storage facility. The water treatment plant had the capacity to treat the volume supplied from that reservoir.
Public access to the Star Gulch Reservoir had been restricted to protect the water's quality prior to the addition of a water treatment facility to the city's drinking water infrastructure.
But the addition of a water treatment facility reduced the need to maintain a strict prohibition of public access to the reservoir.