Laserfiche WebLink
<br />same way did the IBCC Charter was compiled. Another suggestion was that a local <br />subgroup could assist in collecting or pulling ideas together and help to work through <br />disagreements. <br /> <br />CWCB should be the institution to help focus discussion at the basin roundtables, and <br />also should be the logical place to start for guidance of what has previously worked and <br />not worked. CWCB has the knowledge of existing water related grant and loan <br />programs, and SB 179 needs to complement those existing programs. Steve spoke with <br />Sen. Jim Isgar about the need for up-front funds for feasibility studies, and the senator said <br />he had targeted SB 179 money for just that purpose. Sen. Isgar said that funding would <br />be in the form of grants for those studies. <br /> <br />Gary Kennedy (Mancos Water Conservancy District) said that he noticed more interest in <br />domestic M&I water, and to do that, the Mancos Valley would have to find new water or <br />convert ag water to domestic water. It would be difficult to transfer that water because <br />many ranchers and farmers would love to have more water. He added that new storage <br />would help, and his district has started investigating new storage, probably in several <br />small reservoirs. Mancos Water needs to come up with funds to do a study for those <br />small reservoirs. <br /> <br />Mark Ragsdale told participants that the San Miguel Project has been studied to death. <br />Some proactive work has been done on the possibility of raising the Gurley, but the cost <br />has not been determined. Mark said the San Miguel Project is part of the Colorado River <br />Storage Project, but it has been pared down significantly. The possibility of enlarging <br />Lone Cone or possibly a new reservoir below the Gurley has been looked at. He added <br />that projects like the Marie Scott are sitting on land that is so expensive as to be <br />unreasonable. <br /> <br />Hal Pierce (Pine River Irrigation District) said that restrictions on the reservoir, such as <br />carryover water in the winter, hamper tie his hands. He hasn't found a solution yet that <br />will do the job. <br /> <br />Dick Lunceford of the southeastern La Plata County task force attempting to build a <br />domestic water system for that area explained that his group tried to organize a special <br />district. The plan was submitted to the county commissioners, but was blocked by the oil <br />companies. Another service plan will be submitted in the very near future, but the task <br />force will face the oil companies again. The oil companies don't want to pay the mill <br />levy. The group needs $150,000 to $200,000 to refute the arguments of the gas <br />compames. <br /> <br />Discussion turned again to the Water Supply Reserve Account. This roundtables needs to <br />look at four or five projects ready to go forward, and further discussion will need to take <br />place at the next meeting. Participants questioned whether this roundtable needs to do <br />some significant lobbying and go with the squeaky wheel process. Also, should funds be <br />applied for before a needs assessment is completed? Everyone was in agreement that <br />what we do is build on SWSI, because that process is further along with identifying <br />