BOARD00054 ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 11/13/2006
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

All of the federal legislation is pending, and no action is expected until after the November elections.

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So far, the Southeastern District, Lower Ark and water users have jointly paid about $500,000 for studies
of the conduit.

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SE Water District Ponders Impact of Projects on Flows: At its meeting in September, the
Southeastern Colorado Water Conservation District reviewed data provided by Pat Edelmann, head of the
local U.S. Geological Survey in Pueblo.

Edelmann stated that after construction, Pueblo Dam flows increased 4.4 percent as measured at the
A vondale gauge. He also stated that dozens of other water storage projects, pipelines, more
transmountain diversions, exchanges and changes of use make the flow picture complex. Volume ranged
from less than 200,000 acre-feet in 2002, to closer to 1 million acre-feet several years, USGS data
showed.

The spikes have occurred more frequently since Pueblo Dam was completed and mountain dams
enlarged, but Edelmann isn't sure that has happened because of manmade features on the river or natural
conditions. Edelmann said getting at the specific impacts would require more intense study.
Southeastern Executive Director Jim Broderick said the numbers indicate the need for more study of the
Arkansas River to understand how it is changing.

Water District Unveils Future Plans: At its regular October meeting, the Upper Arkansas Water
Conservancy District unveiled its priorities for the future. Its global augmentation plan tops the list.

The global augmentation plan is one of 17 items on the district's list of priorities, along with buying and
enlarging Trout Creek Reservoir near Johnson Village, implementing an augmentation plan in Custer
County, agreeing on a comprehensive water management plan with the Town of Buena Vista and
improving North Fork, Boss Lake and O'Haver reservoirs.

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The global augmentation plan, filed in water court as 06CW32, would maximize the district's use of all of
its water rights. Instead of the current requirement that all water depleted in one basin be replaced with
water from that basin, the global plan would make all district water rights available for augmentation in
all basins.

The City ofSalida, Town ofPoncha Springs, Town of Buena Vista and Chaffee County are all objectors
in the case.

Ideas on Refilling Palmer Lake: On Nov 7, residents of Palmer Lake will vote on building a $450,000
pipeline from a capped town well to the lake, using water from the Denver aquifer to raise dwindling lake
levels.

Lack of rain has caused lake levels to drop during the past few years. In 2005, the volunteer Awake the
Lake Committee spent $19,000 to pump in well water, raising the lake to one-third capacity, but the water
later receded.

The estimated 3,600-foot pipeline would stretch to the lake from an unused well that cost the town about
$290,000 to drill. The town capped the well, because it produces only 60 gallons a minute and was
considered not producing enough water to connect it to the town's water system.

If the issue passes, the project would add an estimated 2.477 mills per year to the town's property tax rate
for the next 10 years. Some residents think the money could be better used trying to obtain storage rights
for water flowing from reservoirs near town, and worry that the well could go dry. Other residents say

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