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<br />026~ <br /> <br />TASK 2 - Evaluate Demand for Ft. Lyon Canal Water <br /> <br />The potential demand for Ft. Lyon Canal Company water includes recreational, municipal and other <br />agricultural interests. <br /> <br />Demands for recreational use are presently being quantified in the Department of Parks and Outdoor <br />Recreation Great Plains Reservoir Studies in the initial draft report. This demand includes water for <br />both recreation and wildlife at the Great Plains Reservoir and State Park. Use of some or all of Ft. <br />Lyon water is also possible at John Martin Reservoir for similar recreation and wildlife purposes. <br />Transferring Ft. Lyon water to recreational and wildlife uses and the resulting irnpact on state and <br />local entities is of interest to residents of the valley. At this time, no state park exists south of <br />Interstate 70 and east of Inte~tate 25. Residents of southeastern Colorado and the Lower Arkansas <br />River Valley must travel a considerable distance to enjoy access to a Colorado state park, compared <br />to other Colorado citizens. <br /> <br />, <br />Another potential demand is for municipal use. Based on our knowledge of the water development ~ i~ <br />plans of both Colorado Springs and Pueblo, it is unlikely that either of the two major Arkansas Valley ~ ~ s . <br />cities would express any interest in acquiring Ft. Lyon water. The demand then could be from other cY'-oV\ ~1' <br />smaller communities in the Arkansas Valley or in the Denver metro area. Based on the regional water S+- \t"..-"""' <br />supply plan prepared by the Denver Regional Council of Governments in 1986, there is a demand f~ ~ , ' <br />245,000 acre-feet of additional safe yield required within the Denver Metropolitan region by the yea.r~0 <br />2010. This will be satisfied through the acquisition of agricultural water rights or development of kv~l, <br />other water supply projects. In reviewing these demands, we will detennine whether they would be <br />for base water supplies or if the demand would be intermittent and for either interruptible or drought I <br />period supplies. Dr. John Clark has recent experience in research and development of analytical <br />approaches to drought year supplies and agricultural water usage by municipalities. <br /> <br />There would also be potential demand for drought period supply by other irrigation companies in the <br />valley, particularly those with priorities such as the Holbrook Canal. This demand is borne out by <br />consistent applications for supplemental Fry-Ark Project water through the Southeastern Colorado <br />Water Conservancy District. We will conduct a review of river diversions during previous drought <br />periods. Interviews with officers of the various canal companies will be conducted to determine the <br />magnitude and timing of these potential demands. Also to be determined is an estimated cost of water <br />and the potential willingness to pay for such water. <br /> <br />Specific elements of Task 2 include: <br /> <br />. Assemble demand projection data from the water use sectors within the region, including the <br />Denver metropolitan area. Estimate a willingness to pay for water from each sector identified. <br /> <br />. Summarize the data in graphic and tabular form. Formulate comparisons. <br /> <br />. Describe possible delivery scenarios to these sectors from the Ft. Lyon system or alternative <br />points of diversion. <br /> <br />8 <br />