18c ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 11/18/2007
• Description: CF Section – Referred Non-Reimbursable Investments - Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District/CWCB Water Supply Protection Section - Arkansas River Basin Water Quality Baseline Study
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
wuu . o~n cU. state. co.us
Bill Ritter, 7r.
Governor
TO: Colorado Water Conservation Board xairis D. sheiYnan
DNR Executive Director

FROM: Steve Miller
Water Supply Protection Section Dan McAuliffe
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DATE: November 6, 2007
RE: Agenda Item lSc. November 14-15, 2007 Board Meeting
Water Supply Planning and Finance Section -Referred Non-Reimbursable
Investments -Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District/CWCB Water
Supply Protection Section -Arkansas River Basin Water Quality Baseline Study
Introduction
Compared to any other region of the state, water quality concerns are probably most acute in the
Arkansas Basin. Unfortunately, a water quality data set, well distributed in time and space, often
does not exist to provide a basis for rationale analysis of these issues. This vacuum is then filled
with "pop" science or worse, no science, and emotional and intuitive arguments. Water users
and the US Geological Survey staff based in Pueblo have long recognized the need, but funds to
design, develop and maintain a credible water quality data network have been lacking. This
grant application, sponsored jointly by CWCB staff and the Southeastern Colorado Water
Conservancy District, proposes to remedy that situation by asking USGS to do a comprehensive
followup to a Phase 1 preliminary study which examined and inventoried all existing Arkansas
Basin water quality information. Phase 1, at a cost of $85,000, was funded by the SECWCD and
should be completed in late 2007 or early 2008. The Board is being asked to fund the next
phase, but it is anticipated that USGS, SECWCD, other water users, and perhaps the Colorado
Water Quality Control Division, may also be able to provide some cost-sharing toward the cost
of the Phase 2 work proposed herein. Phase 2 will involve the creation of a database of the
previously collected information, after quality assurance measures have been applied, an analysis
of remaining information and data gaps related to identified and anticipated water quality issues,
and development of plans to fill those gaps. At the completion of Phase 2 a proposal will be
submitted to the Arkansas Basin Round Table to provide funding for the establishment and
operation of a well crafted, comprehensive, widely accessible baseline water quality monitoring
network and water quality modeling tools that can be used to assess the benefits and impacts of
future water management changes.
Water Supply Protection • Flood Protection • Stream & Lake Protection • Rater Supply Planning & Finance
Water Conservation & Drought Planning • Intrastate Water Management & Development