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3. Nonbeneficial consumptive use - is the quantity of water that is lost from the s s and that is not usedi by the crop. Examples of nonbeneficial consumptive use include: • Evaporatiori not associated with crop CU • Deep percolation of water diverted from the source or applied to the lands via irrigation methods that does not eventually return to the stream system as return flows • Water that consumed by other vegetation includingnon-native plants (l~h water use plants known as phreatophytes are of particular interest). I This grant programs focuses on identifying and assisting in the development of agricultural transfer methods/programs that reduce consumptive use by reducing the amount/types of crops planted and irrigated. ',It is this reduced consumptive use, not the reduction in gross diversions (i.e., changes from flood irrigation to sprinkler irrigation etc.) that can potentially be transferred to an alternate use. When considering alternative methods for transferring agricultural water to a new use, one must understand that some amount of land must be taken out of production and/or the amount and type of crop be reduced or changed! from historic levels. A goal of the alternative transfer is to minimize the geographic focus of the impact and optimize both the agricultural and nonagricultural benefits of the remaining lands. Several types of agricultural transfers have been proposed as potential alternatives to the traditional agricultural transfers that often result in permanent dry up of all or a large portion of irrigation systems as a means to obtain additional water supplies for emerging needs. Conceived transfer methods include, but are not limited to: 1) interruptible water supply agreements;~2) long-term agricultural land fallowing; 3) water banks; 4) reduced consumptive use through efficiency or cropping changes while. maintaining historic return flows; and 5) purchase by end users with leaseback under defined conditions. By no means is the listing exhaustive nor should it be considered advocacy for one or more alternatives. It is hoped that these methods will form the initial basis for discussion and evaluation of alternatives to traditional agricultural water transfers. Ultimately, how M&I providers and environmental and recreational users who desire additional water in the future to meet their diverse needs will be very site/situation specific. It is likely; that a diverse and unique set of alternatives and strategies will be needed. Thus, it is important to consider a number of alternative agricultural transfer methods (interruptible supplies, fallowing, banks, etc.) available to match the imgator's and users' needs. In',addition, these alternatives must be flexible enough to allow variations to meet specific source and user situations. One size will not fit all. i Application Process Eli ibili and Evaluation Criteria g ty I Purpose i The purpose of this .grant program is to further examine and assist in developing/implementing alternate transfer methods to traditional purchase and transfer of agricultural water. The Colorado Water Conservation Board recognizes the economic, 4of7 -~,.o~;,~-,;~.,M, r,;~~,~~;,,r Draft November 3,~°~~~°~~; 2007