16-h

• Board Meeting Date: 11/14/2007
• Description: CF Section - En-bloc Non-Reimbursable Investment Recommendations - Colorado River Curtailment Studies
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

~~'ater Project Construction Loan Program
Project Information
Applicant: Randy Scaholm, CWCB
In Cooperation with
Ken Knox, Acting State Engineer and
Carol Angel, Colorado Attorney Generals Office
Project tiame: Colorado River Curtailment Studies
Project Type: Study of Colorado River curtailment alternatives fbr use in the
development of curtailment rules for Colorado River water users
County: Statewide
Drainage Basin: Colorado River Basin and those portions of other drainage basins using
Colorado River water
~~'ater Source: Colorado River
Amount Requested in FY 2008-2009: $500,000
Estimated 'T'otal Project Cost: $ 500,000
Funding Sources: C1t'CI3 Construction Fund
'I'}'pe of:lpplicant: Government
Background:
The recent multi-year drought and increasing interstate and intrastate demands on
the Colorado Kiver has demonstrated that a curtailment of uses of Colorado River water
in the Capper Colorado River I3asin artd in Colorado is possible under the terms of the
Colorado River Compact. "F he Upper Colorado River Basin States have an obligation
under the Compact to assure that the 10-year running average of flows at Lec Ferry,
Arizona does no[ Pali below 75 million acre feet ("rtra~. The l.'pper Colorado River Basin
States also have an obligation to provide one-halt of any det3cicncics in the 1.5 mat
delivery requirement to Mexico pursuant to the 194 Treaty with Mexico. "I-he State of
Colorado needs ro have a plan for curtailing its uses of Colorado River water in :u~
orderly and equitable fashion should such curtailments he required.
Discussion:
T'hc purpose ol'this study is to identify issues associated with the actual
curtailment of uses and to evaluate alternative methods of curtailing Colorado River
water users within the State should the terms ofColorado River Compact (ail to he rnet.