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<br />SB222 give flexibility to S tate E ngineer to reg ulate ground water while protecting Senior <br />surface water rights — defines principles: <br />- large issues that guide S tate Engineer in Div ision 3 — regulation of confined and <br />uncon fined to sustain a water supply -- #1 principle — sustain aquifer within <br />established range — can use aquifer for storage while not allowing for overdraft — <br />uses of artesian aquifer — establishes levels <br />- reminds that nothing in this con strued to relieve wells of oblig ation to deplet ions <br />or allow for expanded use <br />- also addressed RG compact — if depletions from well pumping require curtailment <br />of senior surface rights, S tate E ngineer must address <br />- offers many ways to remedy <br />- one of big issues is irrigation season - SB222 establishes defined season <br />- can’t use reduction of native veg etation as “new source” of water <br />- does not require seniors to access underground water <br />- provides for formation of SD’s to exempt from well reg ulation if meeting criteria <br />above with court and State Engineer approved se rvice plans <br />- if SD can come up with plan to allow some pumping according to criteria, can use <br />SD’s to achieve a lot of novel things — took a bit of time to understand the true <br />benefit of SD’s <br />- no reason why reg ulation similar to other areas won’t and can’t be applied here — <br />so suggest that we move forward with SD’s while we can ! <br />- Why not more done to date? Huge effort require d to achieve these! A lot of work <br />necessary, modeling needed to determine time and place of depletions, so as to <br />ultimately allow some pumpin g at some level — concern that the only standard is <br />before wells — if that is the standard, will completely change SLV <br />- Opinion is that we have lots of options and we can do this — there is an <br />oppo rtun ity to use the provisions of this bill to make this work <br />- Other wise, our options are lawsuits that could force the S tate E ngineer to <br />regulate wells <br /> <br />Mike G — what is process for an SD to get up and going? <br /> <br />Doug — one of difficulties — set out to get signatures of everyone who owns a well in their <br />area — have to prove that hav e ½ of land and ½ of people — no code in assessors <br />records that indicates source of irrigation, surface or wells — have to have a <br />geographic/hydrographic area and ½ of all landowners and ½ of land area <br />represented — now working with counties to try and better un derstand so that these can <br />go forward <br /> <br />Ray — Closed Basin SD — having first B oard of M anagers meeting tomorrow — looked like <br />the “easy one” — clear area and similar water uses — started out with conversations and <br />education, and quickly realized challenge s — being form ed by committed volunteers who <br />are try ing to convince neighbors to work together for the reduction of consumption of <br />ground water for fa r mers and their bankers! They say, “ I can’t afford to cut back 20% ” — <br />Ask: “C an you afford to cut back 100%? ” Try to ima gine what is equity and get people <br /> Page 8 of 13 RGBRT <br />Minutes <br /> <br /> October 9 , 2006 <br />