North Platte March07minutes

• Basin Roundtable: North Platte
• Title: Minutes
• Date: 3/27/2007
• Basin Roundtables - Doc Type: Minutes

North Platte Basin Roundtable Meeting 3-27-07

Discussion ensued regarding process to form an Enterprise. Northern Conservancy District has offered
to assist Jackson County Conservancy District in the process. The Northwest Enterprise Zone is
different than forming an enterprise entity under TABOR.

Regarding the Water Supply Reserve Account funds, Kent notes that because of TABOR restrictions,
many organizations may not be able to accept and expend funds. Regarding Jackson County applying
for funds to complete projects, Kent emphasized that to implement grant funded projects, county has to
contribute significant time to grant administration. Rick made point that everything we've identified
that we'd like to see accomplished benefits the county. Kent reiterated that we need to find some people
who are willing to put together proposals which can be submitted by appropriate organizations. Carl has
a notebook full of examples from the last funding cycle. The next round of competitive grants will be
reviewed in September and we can submit projects utilizing our basin account every other month, with
the next round to be reviewed in June. Our needs assessment task orders have been submitted. Guest,
Greg Kernohan from Ducks Unlimited noted that DU is working with the Greeley and South Platte
conservancy districts on some projects. They are interested in water delivery infrastructure projects that
benefit ducks as well as producers. While their availability is limited, if project is of interest to DU, DU
representatives may be willing to assist in putting together applications. Members willing to work on
basin and statewide proposals include John Rich, Dirk Ramsey and Sandy Knox.

Basin Needs Assessment
Bob Plaska attended the meeting to discuss our task order request for our North Platte Basin Needs
Assessment. Bob noted that he is representing Eric and CDM team. Bob's involvement is very small at
this time, primarily to attend meetings, provide feedback and clarification. He's not sure what his level
of involvement might be in the future.

Task Order #2: Identify and Quantify the non-consumptive uses and needs in the basin.
Bob informed that there is a movement underway to develop a statewide approach to this analysis
methodology. The state is planning to have a workshop in May to talk about how to assess non-
consumptive uses. There will be a meeting with CDM staff and Melinda Kassen to develop the program
and organize agenda for that workshop. They are asking for representatives from each basin roundtable
to participate in the workshop. There will not be anything further to report on Task Order #2 till after
that workshop, possibly may have something new by the June meeting. Carl questions whether a
statewide approach can really be developed. Bob says that by following some general principles, from
the standpoint of the recreation industry, there are some general ways to look at benefits. The effort
underway is an attempt to develop a common technical platform to assess non-consumptive uses in
Colorado.

Task Order #3: Address North Platte Basin high altitude crop consumptive use coefficients.
Bob reports that a lot of information is already put together as task order # 59.1 in the South Platte
Decision Support System (SPDSS). In talking with Nicole Rowan and Ross B?, Ross indicates that in
the SPDSS they have adopted the "Ivan Walter" high altitude crop coefficients based on SP lysimeter
data. New information including data from the Gunnison basin, North Platte data, and Division 6 data
has been analyzed with the preliminary conclusion that the Ivan Walter data was reasonable. These
coefficients are higher, based on elevation. In the Three State Agreement, the Blaney-Criddle method
was used to alTive at .83 acre foot per irrigated acre consumptive use coefficients. In SPDSS,
consumptive use coefficient was 1.1 acre foot per acre. Other methods for measuring crop consumptive

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