Laserfiche WebLink
<br />OS0647 <br />Southeastern District ReQQtl <br /> <br />Policy Issues and Activities <br /> <br />Community Effort to Buy Water Rights-I have been working <br />with LeroyMauch as a part of the Arkansas Valley effort to buy water rights for <br />future use within the basin. Leroy has asked me to research the various types of <br />entities that could be formed (with taxing authority) that would serve as the <br />vechile to meet their goal. There has also been talk about having the District take <br />on this role, or maybe form a subdistrict, made up of part of the District, that <br />could serve this purpose. At the next board meeting I will present to the board <br />research on this issue. And, I will be asking the board for direction on what role is <br />most appropriate for the District. It is my current thinking that the District should <br />be active on this issue and even consider forming a subdistrict if requested to do <br />so by the Arkansas Valley communities working on this issue. I'll present the <br />pros and cons at the board meeting. Update: Attached for your review is a <br />briefing paper on the different types of entities that could be formed to facilitate <br />the purchase of water rights in the Arkansas Valley. <br /> <br />Aurora/Rocky Ford Ditch Transfer Case- We reached a stipulation <br />with Aurora in settlement of our objections in their Rocky Ford Ditch Transfer <br />case. Work is still pending on the exchange case, As you'll recall Aurora's <br />exchange decree in the original Rocky Ford Ditch transfer/exchange case <br />required that Aurora show diligence in reusing their existing supplies before <br />receiving a decree for more Arkansas basin water. I had Bob Hamilton do a <br />review of Aurora's reuse efforts; that review will be provided to you as a part of <br />the attorneys' Recent Activities Report, Obviously, we're not in a position to <br />make a determination on this issue. We just did a review of Aurora's reports on <br />their "reuse program." The decision on this issue will be left to the water court. <br /> <br />As you are probably aware, the District is under attack by the publisher of <br />the Pueblo Chieftain on this whole Aurora water rights transfer issue (see <br />attached editorial). Given the tone of the last editorial I thought I would respond <br />to Mr. Rawlings with a private letter (see attached). Mr. Rawlings and I are <br />scheduled to met next week to discuss his concerns, However, I don't expect to <br />change his mind. I just want to make sure that he hears our side of the story <br />before he writes his next piece. <br /> <br />5 <br />