South Platte Basin Roundtable Jan 9 minutes.do

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Mike Shimmin: Agrees; at IBCC, any time that discussion begins to skirt around options, West Slope is entrenched in the same position as it has been for the last 25 years: no water leaves West Slope no matter what. For the last 25 years, each basin has viewed situation very parochially; they have not changed their thinking in terms of how they approach this issue; thus, focus and purpose of the IBCC is to attempt to focus on the statewide issues; thus, RE: Fred Walker's idea about meeting with them: it would be important that a developed proposal of some sort for a project or water activity that benefits everyone in each basin be the topic of conversation; thus, focusing on a real project or proposal that would benefit everyone in each basin will be the catalyst to such conversation. Bruce Gerke: one of the problems: the small east slope or west slope communities at the far reaches of the state must meet with larger, developed metro areas and counties; the smaller ones which are detached from daily process, must find some place in the process; our problem is that we do not understand what we are dealing with in terms of dealing with the front range behemoths. Jerke: When will IBCC reps be ready to make a presentation about Yampa basin or other west slope basins? Wilkinson: Should be on next month's agenda; purpose is to put forward a wide array of possible projects and alternatives in order to initiate discussion. The Yampa project deserves close scrutiny and of all alternatives that GAP process looked at, has outstanding potential. Rick Brown: It would be a good idea to present all of the GAP projects to the South Platte Roundtable. Wilkinson: Yes, it would be good idea to present AK, South Platte, Blue Mesa, Flying Gorge, Big Straw and Big Mountain pump-back at same time as doing Yampa project; thus could look at several projects at same time. Rick Brown: Ritter's initial comments focused on conservation, reuse, agricultural transfers, small projects. Thus, initial conversation is that large projects not at forefront of thinking. Rick Brown has been looking at our state 30-100 years out; he does not see that small steps will meet the gap in the future. Demand management only, or ag transfers only are not going to meet the gap. Non permanent agricultural dryup projects being focused upon. Thus, money will be there to help people organize these projects. Bill Brown: What is Ritter's position on ag transfers? Rick Brown: Not clearly articulated yet. 3