South Platte Basin Roundtable Nov 14 minutes.d

• Basin Roundtable: South Platte
• Title: Minutes
• Date: 11/14/2006
• Basin Roundtables - Doc Type: Minutes

--CO River Basin states that the SW ASI report inadequately addresses
consumptive and nonconsumptive use; more work on needs assessment
needed;

2. Legislative Report: the legislature will focus on project requests during
the Jan-May session; timelines for the requests are of paramount
importance to show the legislature that the Roundtable is proceeding with
due diligence and to help demonstrate to the legislature that the concept
behind HB 11 77 is valid and effective

3. Groundwater sub-committee report: Met on 11/14 with CDM and
WCB; reviewed site selections for aquifer recharge

II. Update on the Republican River: Ken Knox: Division of Water Resources
--Republican River is born on Eastern High Plains; 16-17" annual
precipitation; yet, far eastern side of river basin receives 42" of precipitation;
thus flooding is an issue, not allocation as in CO
--24,900 sq miles; key to the 3 state compact with NE and KS; compact dates
to 12/31/42; CO has total allocation of54,100 ac ft-11% of water;
--8 large federal reservoirs on the River;
--a 1935 flood was the impetus for building of storage and the compact of
1942; the compact adjusts fro variable water supply;
--1998: KS files complaint against NE due to NE well drilling; lawsuit alleges
harm from wells; federal govt involved because of the federal storage
reserVOirs;
--Negotiated settlement:
1) waives all claims prior to 12/15/02;
2) Accounting system looks to depletions to stream in time, place
3) CO must determine how to comply with requirements of negotiations
Current statistics: surface water inigation: 4768 acft; ground water
irrigation: 573,190 ac ft; pumping is extracting: 725,089 act ft/yr
Bottom line: CO is out of compliance by about 11,530 ac ft.
Actions: --fines allowed of $500/day;
--Republican River Water Conservation District created in 04 to
try to craft compliance; the District aims for community
involvement and reduction of consumptive use
--Question from Joe Frank: What happens if CO does not meet compact
compliance?
--Worst case scenario: full curtailment of all water users.

III. Siltration and Reservoir Dredging: Charles Hoyt
--Mr. Hoyt presented a PowerPoint presentation on the benefits of hydraulic
dredging; Mr. Hoyt can be reached at [e-mail]

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