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Water Supply Reserve Account – Grant Application Form <br />Form Revised May 200 7 <br />_______________________________________ <br /> <br />i. The water activity comliments a needs assessment which was done by Agro Engineering & Hydrosphere <br />for Rio Grande Decision Support in the 90’s. This need has been identified for a long time, yet we <br />have had no funds to complete the project. By stopping the wild flooding, this project addresses both <br />consum ptive and nonconsumptive needs by maintaining a proper channel for the Conejos River. <br /> <br />j. The water activity meets the following water management objectives identified in the Statewide Water <br />Supply Initiative : It sustainably meets agricultural demands fo r irrigating almost 12,000 acres of <br />farmland; provides for environmental enhancements to fish and wildlife; protects the cultural values <br />inherent in many of the old acequia irrigation systems established during Spanish land grant <br />settlement; provides opera tional flexibility by reducing the problems of delivering water rights in time; <br />and complies with all aplplicable laws, regulations, and water rights. It directly addresses the Rio <br />Grande Basin Roundtable’s mission of creating sustainable systems. <br /> <br />k. Th e water activity promotes water conservation and efficiency by remedying losses due to reduced <br />channel capacity, stabilizing channel boundaries, slowing bank erosion . <br /> <br />l. The applicant has established a water conservation plan through the Conejos Water Co nservancy <br />District. As members of the District, we suppor and participate in the District’s water conservation <br />plan. <br /> <br />m. The water activity will make new water available for use because in the current system water is being <br />lost to flooding and riverbank i nstability . <br /> <br />n. The water activity involves avoiding the bypassing of the Los Sauces Gauge, which would occur in the <br />next, and most likely, flood. This would void the proper operation of a most valuable existing facilit y. <br /> <br />The Water Activity Addresses I ssues of Statewide Value <br /> <br />o. Th is water activity helps sustain agriculture in one of Colorado’s most productive regions by ensuring <br />the delivery of much needed irrigation water for cash crops and for livestock industry forage. <br /> <br />p. Th is water activity di rectly affects the administration and fulfillment of Colorado’s Rio Grande Compact <br />by eliminating problems on this reach of the Conejos. This project is seriously needed to protect the <br />integrity of the Conejos’ ability to meet its Rio Grande Compact obliga tion. <br /> <br />q. Threatened or endangered species. John Alves, Colorado Division of Wildlife, has observed trout using <br />the J - hook vane as cover on the Rio Grande and SouthFork of the Rio Grande. We are adding <br />additional rock to our J - hook structures to encourage fish habitat on the Conejos as well. <br /> <br />r. This water activity provides a huge bang for the State’s buck. I n relationship to the amount of funds <br />requested , it provides a high level of benefit to Colorado and to our downstream Compact neighbors . <br /> <br />s. We fee l this water activity is complimentary to our Basin’s emphasis on sustainability, on recharging our <br />aquifers, in collaborating with the Rio Grande Water Conservation District’s plans for water quality <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />7 <br /> <br />