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• Board Meeting Date: 1/23/2008
• Description: IWMD Section - Alternative Agricultural Water Transfer Methods Grant Program - Adoption of Criteria Guidelines
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

needed. Thus, it is important to consider a number of alternative agricultural transfer
methods (interruptible supplies, fallowing, banks, etc.) available to match the irrigator's
and end users' needs. In addition, these alternatives must be flexible enough to allow
variations to meet specific source and user situations. One size will not fit all.
Application Process, Eligibility and Evaluation Criteria
Purpose
The purpose of this grant program is to further examine and assist in
developing/implementing alternate transfer methods to traditional purchase and transfer
of agricultural water. The Colorado Water Conservation Board recognizes the economic,
environmental and cultural value that agriculture provides to our local communities and
the state as a whole. The grant program seeks to both allow the free marketing of water
supplies and to advance alternatives to traditional purchase and transfer of agricultural
water. Projects funded from this grant program should not simply be aimed at
facilitating a single locally-driven transfer but must also provide usable and
transferable information or processes that will increase our understanding of how to
successfully design transfer programs that provide along-term reliable
municipal/domestic water supply while sustaining meaningful production
agriculture.
The grant program is available to applicants/projects in the Arkansas and South Platte
Basins. A minimum of 1 grant will be provided to each basin . The ultimate number of
grants funded will depend on the number and quality of applications received.
There will be two rounds of application submittals and grant awards per year. The first
deadline to submit grant applications will be March 31st, for consideration at the May
2008 CWCB Board meeting. The second round deadline for grant submittal will be
September 30t1' for consideration at the November 2008 CWCB Board meeting. The
CWCB Board will consider the grants and recommendations by staff and will decide
whether to fund, not fund or partially fund the grant requests. If funds are not exhausted
following the first two rounds of applications the same application timefi-ames will apply
for March 2009 and September 2009.
Eli,_ icy Requirements
In order for a project to be eligible to receive funding from the grant program it must
meet the requirements described in this section. If a project meets the eligibility
requirements it will then undergo further analysis to determine how well it meets the
Evaluation Criteria described in the following section.
In order to be eligible for funding, the project must include:
L A completed application form.
2. A description of how, if implemented, it will protect property and water rights.
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Final Criteria and Guidelines
January 22, 2008