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<br />0'267 <br />Pu.N OF STUDY/TASK DESCRIPTIONS <br /> <br />The study will be completed using the tasks designated by the CWCB staff in the Request for Prooosals <br />of October 2, 1992 (as amended by CWCB staff). / <br /> <br />Phase 1 - November 1992 to February 26, 1993 / <br /> <br />TASK 1 - Issue identification. water transfer orocess, and historic Arkansas River water transfers. <br /> <br />Transfers of water from agriculture to municipal and other uses have been occurring for many years <br />in Colorado. Water rights transfer decrees, engineering analysis, and policy/impact evaluations are <br />available from many SO~~wi~, in the Arkansas Valley, at the state universities and at the <br />Water Court in Division are available and will be used as general background information in issue <br />identification. Table 2 is a s g of historic water transfers in the Arkansas Valley. As can be seen, <br />as a result of water transfers there has been a decrease in irrigated agriculture in recent years. These <br />transfers are a concern not only to the immediately affected area but additionally to the State of <br />Colorado as historically 8.6% of all of Colorado's irrigated agriculture exists in the lower Arkansas <br />Valley. The relatively numerous transfers of water from the lower Arkansas Valley, notably from <br />Crowley County, in recent decades appear to result from a combination of economic and social- <br />demographic factors related to the types of agricultural crop production and the geographical relation <br />of the Arkansas River to the cities seeking more municipal water. <br /> <br />'M~ <br /> <br />While these information sources will provide data and perspectives, recently completed and on-going <br />studies of the Lower Arkansas River will provide a more detailed source of information. The Kansas <br />\'S. Colorado litigation documents held by the ewCB staff, the State Attorney General, the Office of <br />the State Engineer, and the State's consulting engineers and attorneys are important sources of <br />information on the Ft. Lyon study area. Selected materials made available by the ewCB staff have <br />been reviewed as a part of this proposal preparation. <br /> <br />Specific elements of Task 1 include: <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Identify and describe the important variables in the execution of water transfers, including the <br />attributes of third parties which may be impacted. These variables are identified by legal, <br />environmental, and socioeconomic issues raised in a region in which a water transfer occurs. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Outline the specific steps in the analysis, negotiation, sale and transfer of water. Water <br />transfers in Colorado are usually complex and expensive, but the process is well known. The <br />transfer process has become increasingly complex due to the socioeconomic factors raised by <br />the courts which have not traditionally been part of the legal transfer process. Using this <br />background, the offer by Colorado Water Supply Co. (Colorado Interstate Gas Company) for <br />Ft. Lyon Canal water in 1991 will be summarized. <br /> <br />. .Y if'c/ <br />VI/'- <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Summarize the historic Arkansas River water transfers, including the results of research into <br />effects of these transfers (Pueblo to Colorado-Kansas state line). <br /> <br />6 <br />