Arkansas - Rotational Land Fallowing - Water Leasing Program_BRT Approval Letters

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A1'kansas Basin Roundtable c/o Board of Water Works of Pueblo Attention: Alan Hamel P.O. Box 400 Pueblo CO 81002-0400 September 20, 2007 Mr. Rick Brown Interstate Water Management Development Section Colorado Water Conservation Board 1580 Logan Street, Suite 1600 Denver, Colorado 80203 Subject: Water Supply Reserve Account 2008 Grant Application for Rotational Land FallowinglWater Leasing by the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District Dear Rick: Enclosed is a grant application from the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District (LA VWCD) for $150,000 from the Arkansas Basin Account. This grant application is for study of their proposed rotational land fallowing/water leasing program, referred to by many as the "Super Ditch." In December of 2006, our Needs Assessment Committee, which reviews all Arkansas Basin Roundtable grant applications approved, moving this to the full Roundtable by a vote of nine in favor, two against, with one abstention. This presentation was originally scheduled in January 2007, but was postponed. It was considered by the Arkansas Basin Roundtable at both the August 8th and the September 12th meetings. At the August meeting, the LA VWCD did a full presentation to the Roundtable on "Super Ditch," at which time the Roundtable could not reach a consensus on consideration of this grant request. The Roundtable membership voted to shift from a consensus process to a vote at our September meeting. We appropriately posted the September 1ih meeting with the understanding that a vote would be taken on this grant application. At that meeting, after the presentation on the actual grant application and a full discussion, the Roundtable voted 28 in favor, 3 against, and 2 abstentions, therefore meeting one approval guideline under our bylaws. Our bylaws require a 75 percent super majority, which was attained. It was approved with the understanding that if it was accepted by CWCB it would be funded from our Basin Account. There was a dissenting opinion given by Terry Scanga, General Manager of the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District (see attached). In closing, if I can be of any assistance to you and your staff or the Water Conservation Board in their evaluation and consideration, please do not hesitate to contact me at: 719.584.0221 or ahamel@pueblowater.org. Sincerely, ~ Alan C. Hamel Chair enc IkIn c: Jay Winner Jonathon Fox Gary Barber Eric Hecox Jeris Danielson Terry Scanga