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<br />list for 85 new memberships which are unserved pending an increase in raw water available to the Company. <br />Under a new contract with the District and the BoR, the Water Company is encouraging existing users of <br />Jackson Gulch water to abandon quantities of irrigation water so that the water can be reallocated to the Water <br />Company as M & I water. This is a choice that residents of the Valley are facing in order to increase the <br />supplies of domestic water. Additional water storage capacity will enable adequate domestic water supplies to <br />be maintained without reducing water available for agriculture. <br /> <br />This project concept is endorsed by the following organizations which represent irrigation water and M& I water <br />users in the Valley and many landowners along the river: The Mancos Valley Beaver Ditch Company, the <br />Henry Bolen Ditch Company, The Number Six Ditch Company, the Sheek Ditch Company, the Weber Ditch <br />Company, the Root and Ratliff Ditch Company, the Carpenter / Mitchell ditch company, the Town of Mancos, <br />, <br />Mesa Verde National Park and others. <br /> <br />The District will actively pursue contributions and matching funds for the Project after feasibility studies are <br />available to provide specific definition of the facilities, costs and schedules. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br />The applicant has done an excellent job summarizing the needs of the District and the benefits this grant will <br />provide including a description of the numerous beneficiaries of this multi-objective project. The applicant <br />describes in detail how this project meets the evaluation criteria as well as meeting Colorado’s future water <br />needs as identified in the Statewide Water Supply Initiative. The project sets out to maximize the use of the <br />waters in the Mancos basin including meeting the needs of municipal, agriculture, environments and <br />recreational interests. As described, this project seems to be the type envisioned by the legislatures when <br />enacting SB179. <br /> <br />Considering the fact that Jackson Gulch Reservoir is a Bureau of Reclamation Project (see fact sheet <br />included in the application) and that the BOR will be contracted to do the work, it is unfortunate that the BoR <br />is not providing any matching funds for this project. Staff is aware of the BoR’s “Water 2025 Challenge <br />Grant program,” which provides matching funding for projects designed to stretch water resources through <br />conservation, efficiency and water marketing. The applicant should provide information regarding their <br />thoughts on pursuing a 2025 grant and why this has not been done. In addition, the applicant is encouraged <br />to work with the BOR to seek additional funding sources for future phases of this project. <br /> <br />Issues/Additional Needs: <br /> <br />Please provide a detailed budget--the project budget does not include level of effort and rates (hours, <br />? <br /> <br />unit costs, etc) for discrete tasks. <br />The scope of work should provide more detail on the purpose of each task, the method or procedure <br />? <br /> <br />used to accomplish the task and the deliverables or product produced. <br />Please provide a detailed project schedule. <br />? <br /> <br />The applicant has not identified any TABOR issues, if any. <br />? <br /> <br />The applicant has not identified how they intend to finance construction of the final project. <br />? <br /> <br />Please describe why the applicant sought exclusive funding through SB179 funds. <br />? <br /> <br /> <br />Staff Recommendation: <br />The proposed project meets the Threshold Criteria. Staff recommends funding the Jackson Gulch Reservoir <br />Feasibility Study contingent on resolution of the items in the issues/additional needs section. It should be <br />noted that past costs can not be reimbursed. <br /> - 3 - <br />