SECWCD WCPlan 1997

• Project Type: Water Conservation Plan
• Applicant: Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District
• Project Name: Fryingpan-Arkansas Project
• Title: 1997 Water Conservation Plan
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Complete Plan

1997 Conservation Plan-Future Opportunities and Objectives

1. Allocation Policy Review and Process Revisions-Objective: Consider
adjustments to the District's Project Water Allocation Policy and Process
which allows for the most efficient use of Project Water and Project
storage facilities. In 1996 the District began a review process of the Project
Water Allocation Policies and Process in an attempt to update the Policy to
meet current needs. As a result of that 1996 review process the District revised
the decision time-line for the 1997 allocation of Project Water to irrigation
entities in the District. In years past, irrigation entities would be required to
submit a request for Project Water in early April of each year and were then
allocated their share of Project Water. Each entity would pay for their full
allocated share in May without knowing what their true need for Project Water
would look like during the latter part of the summer when the supplemental
Project water was traditionally used. The old up-front buy it all in May
approach would force each entity to guess at their respective need and in some
cases over purchase Project Water if the year turned out to be a wet year, and
use the water by a prescribed date or lose it. The District adjusted this process
in 1997 to allow each irrigation entity to delay their final purchase decision
until July 15th. This new process allows for better water purchase decisions
and keeps Project Water unallocated and in storage longer if it's not needed in
the current irrigation season. The District will again review its Project Water
Allocation Policies and Process in 1997/98 with the goal of considering
adjustments which might allow for the effective use of Project Water. The
Allocation Committee of the District is now considering policy changes which
would shorten the use-period for Project Water allocated to irrigation entities.
This is just an example of the many concepts the District will consider during
this review process. Schedule: Winter '971'98 and each year there after.

2. USBR Seepage Reduction Study-Objective: Assist the canal companies in
the District with investigations of seepage problems in their ditch system
and possible remedies. In 1997 the Southeastern District asked the US
Bureau of Reclamation to work with two irrigation ditch companies in the
District in an effort to help identify seepage problems in their respective ditch
systems. The Bureau's Technical Service Center (TSC) staff conducted an
investigation of the Catlin Canal and possible canal lining options (see
attached July 1997 Report). The TSC Report generally characterized the
seepage problems facing the Catlin Canal, and offered 8 options to control or
abate the seepage problems. The exact the seepage volumes were not