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<br />Division 4 - Gunnison Basin <br /> <br />Water BanklIntegrated Water managementlIn-Basin Call Management <br /> <br />Description: The water bank concept, or integrated water management system, about using basin <br />water resources most efficiently and effectively by exchanging water to and from different storage <br />facilities when conditions are appropriate (e.g., Ridgway to Blue Mesa as against a downstream <br />senior call). It is anticipated that this type of cooperatively operated water bank would be most <br />effective in the middle quartile years (slightly below average to slightly above average hydrologic <br />conditions). Water would be "deposited" into the bank when water is available and (when space is <br />available) and would be Uwithdrawn" when water bank members need it. It would most likely <br />require some senior water right call reduction or forbearance arrangement and/or be the result of a <br />storage exchange; these actions would allow ot~erwise out-of-priority storage to occur. It could be <br />carried over from year to year but most likely would be the first water to spill. <br /> <br />In addition, it is hoped that this concept could provide an income stream to those willing to commit <br />water resources to the bank to aid in water efficiency improvements (e.g,,; UVWUA, Redlands Water <br />and Power, etc..). In summary, it is hoped that this style of integrated water management and on- <br />demand water transfers would provide more certainty to the water users by 1) firming up existing <br />supplies by expanding the storage potential of existing facilities, 2) result in more efficient use of <br />limited supplies, and 3) to provide capital to further improve system-wide efficiency. <br /> <br />River District Interests vis a vis SWSI: <br /> <br />1.. Recognition that institutional baniers may be hampering the ability to use existing water <br />resources in an optimal manner. <br /> <br />2. Recognition that federal agencies may not fully cooperate without full cooperation of the <br />basin interests and the State playing a major facilitation role pursuant to state water banking <br />rules and regulations. <br /> <br />3. Recognition that a long-term, finn, financial source is lacking to further water resource <br />development and that the need for an economic engine is paramount for long-term stability <br />for water users in the basin. <br /> <br />Aspinall EIS Baseline/Gunnison PBa <br /> <br />Description: It is essential that historical benefits of the Aspinall Unit are preserved and <br />protected for in-basin water users. To do this SWSI should help basin users come <br />together to uniformly define these beneficial operations in a baseline that wiU be preserved <br />and possibry enhanced under the EJS and PSO processes. Current operations benefit the <br />entire basin and provide protection against jeopardy to the continued existence of the <br />currently listed endangered species. To get in-basin users to agree upon the elements of <br />this baseline will be a challenge but if it can be accomplished thru SWSI, it may make the <br />dual processes smoother and it could make the Gunnison SWSI process quite productivea <br />