South Platte Roundtable Issues Needs and Solut

• Basin Roundtable: South Platte
• Title: South Platte Roundtable Issues, Needs and Solutions
• Basin Roundtables - Doc Type: Needs Assessment Documents

Multiple uses/efficie ncy
Good and bad aspects of multiple uses of return flow – efficient but harms quality
Conservation has limits
What should last 50 miles of river look like?
Is it time for a State wide water plan?
Planning for Colorado’s future/economy
Diverse industry bas e
Need: education on water and water law for general public
Republican river - needs its own SWSI
Education on high plains/ag irrigation water use
Aquifer recharge possibilities

Northern Front Range (Weld, Larimer, and Boulder Counties)
Possible Uses for 179 and/or 1400 Monies
?

Study: SWSI says South Platte basin will have an 18,400AF M&I gap after taking
into account IPP’s (Identified Projects and Processes). How meet this gap? How
to meet this gap? This is the gap if all projects and processes are impl emented.
The gap is likely greater because not all will be implemented.
?

Study: Determine how long it takes to move from level 1 conservation to levels 2
and 3 and the infrastructure needed for managing it, i.e. holding onto the water so
it can be put to u se when it is needed
?

Study: Transition of ag water to urban and the effect on ag users and ag
communities
?

Study: environmental and recreation (non - consumptive) needs -- mapping
environmental attributes, threats, issues. A common understanding of what thos e
needs are. What existing infrastructure is already available for environmental and
recreation needs? We need to look at the broader context, including creative
exchanges, and acquisition of water for “replumbing” to accomplish goals related
to environmen tal and recreation needs
?

Study: How to augment wells to keep water pumping to farms dependent on them
decreed augmentation plans.
?

Study/Project?: Reusable water needs to be stored or dedicated for a specific use
(needs to find a home) Augmentation could be one home
?

Infrastructure to help perform obligations of Platte River Recovery Program
($50M total)
?

Study: Quantify Colorado’s endangered species since 1997 as part of the Platte
River Recovery Program commitment (satisfaction of the 3 states agreement
comes first) Hire consultant to determine the amount and location of reusable
water to satisfy Colorado’s obligations under the 3 states agreement.
?

Reallocation of Chatfield storage (from flood storage to conservation storage)
Western, Central, Brighton ar e all participants, and need funds for EIS. Metro and
South Platte could cooperate (NEPA compliance is needed). The EIS is coming
but funding needed. This would help

Well augmentation for Weld County
o

Brighton municipal water
o

Winter Augmentation
o