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0280 Alternative 4: Water Banking Water banking has been successfully used in Idaho and California during recent droughts. No express authorization exists in Colorado for water banking, but such a practice could be impJemented through a large scale temporary substitute su I Ian approved by the . r of one or more years' duraoon. e Sou eastern Colorado Water Conservancy Disnict's voluntary winter storage program set a similar precedent for cooperative water managemelJ.t in the Arkansas valley in the late 1970's and early 1980's. A water bank could be decreed, but most likely only after a practical test period and substantial additional studies beyond the scope of the present CWCB Ft. Lyon study. California water banking involved not only voluntary interruption of supply to agricultural users, but ~ transbasin imports, all for the purpose of supplying critical needs during drought. The bank was . facilitated with market value purchases of water for short terms and resale at a high, but not exorbitant, price by a government agency. A permanent water banking mechanism in Colorado might require legislative authorization, and our study will review that issue. From a hydrologic standpoint, water banking depends on the availability of adequately situated water storage vessels. .Storage in wet ears in the Arkans . demonstrabl limited. However, in normal ...-. L.. years storage space IS a a Ie and in ry years extensive upstream space is available. Of particular ~ ~ l'- interest is whether the Ft. L on storage system can provide stora e for water bankin which would ~ aid the lower valley and compact 0 IgaOons. 6 \ -' ') I n.. """--~, Water banking involves interruption of water application, and changed patterns of use and application. That necessarily results in changed return flows patterns and potentially significant stream regimen changes, both short term analong term. Because the Ft. Lyon holds rights to storage in its own vessels, a right to store in John Marrin and Pueblo Reservoirs, and the potential for delivering water to the Great Plains Reservoirs, the Ft. Lyon may be positioned to facilitate water bankinS?: in the Arkansas basin more than other canal companies. .- The extensive use of water for alfalfa and grasses under the Ft. Lyon may also mean that drought r. 9J (J/ I>-- based interruption of supply could be more easily accommodated under the Ft. Lyon (see below under ~ ~ D futerruptibre supply). Under the Drought Relief Act, the Corps of Engineers was directed to establish a drought relief plan involving John Martin Reservoir. The Corps recognized that water shortage under current Colorado law is handled by the priority system and cannot be changed by federal fiat. However, a more careful study of water management, market reallocation of water, and State Engineer approval of short term arrangements, we believe could demonstrate the feasibility of a careful water banking effort. Alternative 5: Retirement of Marginal Agricultural Lands Defining and identification of marginal lands would be the first phase of evaluating this alternative. Soil Survey reports for the counties of Otero, Bent, and Prowers should provide much of the data needed. Interpretive maps available in SCS field offices may provide additional data on present use, of these marginal lands. Shifting of water use from marginal land to more productive land is 'probablv an ongoing practice within the boundaries of individual farm units in years of average or below water availablUry. - 19