WSP11971 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I {". r-. J '''. '. ~v~ "to transact any. lawful activity, and specifically activities relating to the protection of the Fort Lyon Canal Company in the viable and continued operation of the Fort Lyon Canal Company as an irrigation company or relating to the development of guidelines and provisions for any future water sales." (Articles of Incorporation of Fort Lyon Ownership of Water, Inc. Article III, March 24, 1992). FLOW's activities slowed when the CWS offer was withdrawn, but the group pursued possible engineering studies in the summer of 1992, Those efforts were discontinued pending the outcome of the Boyle Engineering study on the Great Plains System and this study for the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Issue Identification There are multiple perspectives from which to describe issues and impacts related to large scale rural-to-urban and agricultural-to-non-agricultural water transfers. For a transfer of Ft. Lyon Canal Company water, issues are presented relative to the defined study area and the constituencies most affected, The following issues arise from the impacts of a water transfer: questions of how can impacts be avoided, mitigated, or offset; who should bear the burdens of the impacts; and who should decide what actions to take, are key underlying considerations in identifYing issues! Issues most relevant to the study area were developed by contact with local citizens, experience of the project team and literature review. Issues are grouped in summary form and then detailed below: A. Ft. Lyon Canal Company issues: relevant to farmers and ranchers served by the ditch company; 1. Water supply and the individual farm business 2. Ft. Lyon Canal Company operations and finances 3. Environmental; and ecosystems B. Regional issues: relevant to citizens of the larger study area, including water users not directly associated with the company; 1. Water supply; quality, quantity and distribution 2. Economic, financial and social; commerce, opportunity and quality of life 3, Environmental; riparian wetlands and plains ecosystems C. Statewide issues: of concern to all Coloradans, the State government, and the Colorado General Assembly. 3 Issues relative to urban and industrial interests are outside the scope of this study and not included. Effects of transfers are discussed in Chapter 6. However, potential urban water demand is discussed in Chapter 5 as an influencing factor for water transfers in the study area. 2.5