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<br />Section 2 <br />Reports From Basin Roundtables, <br />~~:'i'lc'i~ <br /> <br />. Current conditions and cost of improvements of <br />existing privately owned and operated reservoirs. <br /> <br />. Identification of data gaps and how they will be, <br />addressed to further understand the hydrology of the <br />Basin and the recharge of its aquifers. This will be <br />followed by the development of the data, <br /> <br />. Identification of information required by the newly <br />formed Sub-districts to address groundwater <br />management plans, This will be followed by the <br />development of the data. <br /> <br />. Development of alternatives for municipalities to <br />augment their ground water supplies to meet potential <br />Colorado Division of Water Resources Rules arid <br />Regulations. <br /> <br />. Assessment of future augmentation water needs to <br />meet future development in the Rio Grande Basin, <br />and how such needs can be met. <br /> <br />It is anticipated that the RGBRT will be seeking <br />assistance from the DNR's constulting team to further <br />develop the concepts of activities to address the Rio <br />Grande Basin's needs. The constulting ream will also <br />assist in the identification and development of proposed <br />solutions and data gathering. They will also assist in the <br />feasibility and costs of potential solutions and the <br />immediate costs associated with the proposed activities. <br />Their assistance will also be sought in preparing th~ <br />submissions to the IBCC for funding under SB 06 -179. <br /> <br />2.7.4 Major Water Issues in the Rio <br /> <br />Grande Basin <br /> <br />Water in the Rio Grande Basin is currently over <br />appropriated. Compliance with the Rio Grande Compact <br />places limitations as to how flows in the Rio Grande and <br />Conejos River are managed, which in turn significantly <br />affects the availability of irrigation water to support the <br />primarily agricultural economy of the Basin. As stat,ed <br />above, data have confirmed the unprecedented <br />drawdown of the Rio Grande Basin's aquifers, <br />demonstrating that the current water uses and <br />management are not sustainable. To date, the <br />implementation of Well Rules and Regulations by the <br />Colorado Division of Water Resources has been avoided <br />by the ability of the irrigators to form Groundwater <br />Management Sub-districts. The success of these Sub- <br />districts is imperative to the avoidance of well <br />regulations, <br /> <br />2-14 <br /> <br />Additional measures are necessary to address the issue <br />of non-sustainability, This will require a greater <br />understanding of the groundwater regime of the Rio <br />Grande Basin, the role of storage, the management of <br />river flows while meeting the Rio Grande Compact, the <br />issues associated with augmentation programs and the <br />continuing education of communities both within and <br />outside the Basin. <br /> <br />The RGBRT is confident that solutions will be found and <br />implemented to address the Basin's long term water <br />issues. <br /> <br />S:\IBC Support\Report to Leg~lature\Sectlon 2 "nal.doc <br />