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Rio Grande - Rio Grande Initiative_Application_2008
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Rio Grande - Rio Grande Initiative_Application_2008
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Last modified
11/1/2012 10:06:34 AM
Creation date
3/13/2008 3:21:41 PM
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WSRA Grant and Loan Information
Basin Roundtable
Rio Grande
Applicant
Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust
Description
Rio Grande Initiative
Account Source
Basin & Statewide
Board Meeting Date
3/19/2008
Contract/PO #
150420
WSRA - Doc Type
Grant Application
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<br />application), the Rio Grande Water Conservation District (provided matching funds of$30,000), the Rio <br />Grande Water Users, the San Luis V alley Water Conservancy District, the Colorado Rio Grande <br />Restoration Foundation, all four counties in which projects are located (with votes of support from all <br />county commissioners) , and the Colorado Division of Water Resources (CDWR) Division 3 Engineer, <br />(see attached letters from all ofthese entities and additional supporters). The fact that the Rio Grande <br />Initiative received our full request from GOCO for our Legacy Grant, the largest award granted statewide <br />in this funding round, indicates the urgency and importance of this effort on a statewide basis. A <br />combination of the rapidly increasing threats to our historic water use patterns, the opportunity to work <br />with current traditional landowners, and the many benefits to our community, agriculture, healthy river <br />and flood plain function, river corridor recreation and wildlife habitat all intensify our sense of urgency to <br />move forward as quickly as possible with our efforts. <br /> <br />RiGHT and our partners have been building momentum for the Rio Grande Initiative through extensive <br />outreach to landowners, community and funders. Several important historic ranches and senior surface <br />water rights have already been protected with GOCO and other funds over the last several years, creating <br />initial confidence in the process locally and building momentum for the project. At the same time, the <br />threats to the integrity of the river corridor are increasingly on the rise. This project directly addresses the <br />primary threat: fragmentation of large, historic ranches for housing developments, and the associated <br />change of water uses that negatively impact the function of the river and the sustainability of traditional <br />water uses. In addition, funds spent and work accomplished on river and wetlands restoration activities <br />that are implemented on conserved properties are secure for the long term, as the land and water will be <br />protected from changes that would diminish the benefits of the restoration efforts. (See attached letters of <br />support and the Del Norte Prospector news article on the recent sale oflarge ranches.) <br /> <br />As everyone working with river water diversions in Colorado has experienced, the integrity of the river <br />corridor has dramatic effects on all aspects of river functions. As the Rio Grande experienced after the <br />extreme drought of 2002 (when the river ran at approximately 10% of average flows), it took several <br />years of average or above average flows to recharge the uplands and refill the "sponge-like" riparian <br />wetlands to their historic levels, all of which have a direct relationship to river flows and diversion <br />priorities. If we are unable to secure adequate water rights along the river, resulting in the permanent dry <br />up of these historically wet areas, we anticipate the result to be, in effect, permanent, man-made drought <br />conditions. We have the opportunity to prevent or at least minimize the likelihood of this prospect, <br />through the voluntary protection of these lands and their water rights-ifwe act now. <br /> <br />Opportunity: <br />With the recent GOCO Legacy Grant award, including the direct partnership of the CDOW, we are <br />positioned to act. Our various partners are now working together to achieve the conservation of key land <br />and water- while we have the chance. <br /> <br />Development will certainly continue to occur along the river corridor and even at the fullest extent of <br />success, the Rio Grande Initiative will only protect a fraction of developable land in the overall area. Yet <br />we have the opportunity now to strategically protect a number of key river corridor parcels and their <br />substantial, senior surface water rights, with willing-seller landowners. Funds allocated from the WSRA <br />will assist this project to achieve the following benefits for both consumptive and non-consumptive <br />needs: <br /> <br />1) Secure the future viability of agriculture by insuring that land and water resources are available <br />for agriculture for the long term. : <br />. Insure that water currently diverted for agriculture continues to be used <br />essentially in the same historic patterns on the same river corridor land that <br />creates the multiple benefits discussed in this application, <br /> <br />Page 7 of 32 <br /> <br />Rio Grande Initiative <br /> <br />Janual'Y 2008 <br />
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