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Rio Grande Basin Roundtable Technical Meeting #4 Meeting Summary The high, low and average results for the objective weighting in the Rio Grande Basin was presented, as well as the relative occurrence of each option being among the top 5 most preferred choice for each basin roundtable member. Rick Brown reviewed the alternatives development in regards to environmental and recreational uses, M&I and SS-I needs, and agricultural needs. Feedback from the BRT members on the development of alternatives follows. . Under the groundwater management rules, what would be the sources of augmentation? . Arsenic in drinking water - perhaps blending may be possible vs. arsenic treatment with other higher quality sources. . Does the SWSI team need to add any specificity to alternatives? The valley has a pretty good handle on options and feels they can move forward. It is helpful to keep the public involved. . Terrace Reservoir - no firm plans at this time, but with money it could improve the yield. Possible environmental benefit. . Continental has had a significant amount of money invested without reducing seepage. . Unsustainable pumping - do sub-Districts need support? Yes, CWCB could assist with loans and possible "pilot project" grants. . Current range of overdraft should be up to lOOK AF depending on hydrology and snowpack. Source of overdraft varies depending on where you are in the valley. . M&I needs to be careful in how they view growth and growth potential relative to long-term hydrology - growing in the wet years can create a false sense of security. . Responsibility to M&I rate paying customers also affects the attractiveness of conservation. . Issue is not efficiency, in agricultural efficiency it is consumptive use . Remember agriculture water provides secondary benefits (i.e., ecosystem enhancement, wildlife habitat). . Interruptible transfer - during 2002 drought, there was such a low flow the yield for M&I was very limited. . Storage must be constructed even for permanent agricultural transfer (slide 81). . SWSI may want to develop curves of runoff for average year versus drought year to show that dry year leasing has limited yield (part of "water myths" fact sheet). . Control of non-native phreatophytes can cause significant short-term impacts from removal and longer term impacts to downstream native vegetation and ecosystems. . Slide 85 NRCS EQIP, CREPS would be associated with ground and surface water conservation. . Add Alamosa River Restoration Project to slide 85. . Allowing for storage of transmountain waters would allow greater utilization and more flexibility in managing the water portfolio. . Platoro is operated under decree to do more than that - correct slide "minimum" flows. It's a desired level of flow, not minimum. Add "and" to "prevent daily flow." . It takes money to provide enhancements. . Icing causes extreme flow variation (Slide 86) . When making required deliveries it seems "reasonable" to be flexible on flow regime. CDIVI 5 Rio Grande BRT Mtg #4 Summary.doc 11/29/2004