25b ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 11/18/2007
• Description: IBCC Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

The study schedule is expedited and will require support from the Legislature for funding
Existing demands will be reviewed in phase 1 with Roundtable input
A separate administrative-based study on responding to a Compact call is proposed
Education and Outreach Worizin~ Group
Rita Crumpton and Mary Lou Smith gave a presentation on the accomplishments of the Working
Group over the past year. Their presentation is available on the IBCC website. Susan Lesovsky
from CWCB unveiled the IBCC's new website, and showed attendees some of the upgraded
features. The new web address is w~~w.ibcc.state.co.us. Dianne Hoppe President of the
Colorado Foundation for Water Education announced the publication of a new citizen's guide
"Citizen's Guide to Denver Basin Groundwater" -and passed out copies to all members.
South Platte Basin Roundtable Presentation
The South Platte Basin presented an overview of the major water issues in their basin to the
IBCC. The presentations are available on the IBCC website. Bob Streeter and Fred Walker
provided an overview of the basin, discussed water supply and demand, and covered basin
accomplishments as well as challenges and opportunities for the future. Bill Jerke concluded
with a discussion of the economic importance of the basin. The South Platte and Yampa/White
Roundtables will meet together in Walden in a few weeks.
Question: Relationship between your Roundtable and the South Platte task force?
Bill Jerke: We have two Roundtable members that serve on the task force.
Question: What's driving land use change in the basin`?
Bill Jerke: Growth, age of operators, and the fact that agriculture can't compete with
cities to purchase augmentation water for wells.
Question: Do you see a change now that corn prices are up?
Bill Jerke: The well situation encourages people to move toward flexible crops like corn
and alfalfa. Input costs for farming have gone up, and voe need several if not more years
of high commodity prices to come out ahead. I hope ethanol is a viable alternative,
because it may help add to the sustainability of agriculture.
Question: What's your current water situation? Is there a gap nova, or only in the future?
Bob Streeter: There is a gap in recreational and environmental areas. Some areas need
restoration, and there is more demand for water-based recreation than the river can meet.
Question: As a long-term issue, how important is storage?
Fred Walker: With more storage, we could take advantage of more water events. Don't
think more storage is cost effective right now because the firm yield would be low.
Chips Barry: At Denver Water, our technical staff estimated 120,000 ac-ft of water we
had rights to passed through this year because we didn't have room for it in storage.
Carl Trick: Can the South Platte sustain itself without importing additional water?
7