Rio Grande - Rio Grande Initiative_Application_2008

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. preserve agricultural productivity in the wet areas along the river and through agricultural diversions. These diversions spread the water which is absorbed by the "sponge" (i.e. riparian wetlands) for slow release, creating return flows, and thereby sustained river flows and a longer irrigation season; and . protect senior surface rights and secure them to agricultural land, which helps sustain the current economic base of the San Luis Valley, while still allowing for growth in other economic sectors. 2) Protect key wildlife habitat for the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, the recently de-listed Bald Eagle and candidate for listing, Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Across Colorado, and especially in dry areas such as the SL V, 75% of all wildlife depends upon a healthy river, adequate riparian zones and wetlands for their survival. In the SL V, abundant waterfowl, water birds, shore birds, song birds, the migrating Sandhill Cranes as well as large game species such as elk and deer, and many smaller species all make extensive use of the river corridor. A portion of the river is designated as a Gold Medal Fishery as well. Clearly, the health of the riparian zone and the senior surface water rights that keep those wetlands wet, are vital to our wildlife. 3) Continue historic water use patterns to insure that water use is sustained in a manner that helps the CDWR administer the waters of the Rio Grande and meet Colorado's Rio Grande Compact obligations through the storage and recharge benefits of riparian wetlands. The "sponge" effect that these wetlands provide along the river corridor helps to produce return flows, extend the irrigation season and maintain instream flows in the river. (See letter of support from CDWR Division 3 Engineer, Mike Sullivan.) 4) Contribute to public safety in four counties through maintaining the flood mitigation function oflarge portions ofthe river's flood plain. If residential development occurs in the flood plain, the building of new roads, excavations, and changes of water use patterns all diminish the function of the flood plain and increase risks to the public. (As noted, Mineral, Rio Grande, Alamosa and Conejos Counties have all voted support of the Rio Grande Initiative- see attached letters of support.) 5) Contribute to the overall water sustainability of the SL V by helping to keep the river corridor "whole." Keeping senior surface water rights tied to river corridor lands benefits both the consumptive uses of traditional water users and the non consumptive needs for wildlife and recreation by securing sufficient water supply for those purposes. If the water use patterns are altered excessively, we do not foresee how the future widening gap of water supply could be met without severe impacts to these vital functions. It does not make sense to the water community in the Rio Grande Basin to permanently change our current water uses to other uses. Such changes diminish the current beneficial uses that our agricultural economy and non consumptive needs now depend upon. If we lose those functions, we can conceive of no way to restore those functions if the water supply they rely upon is permanently altered. By securing a substantial portion of the critical water rights for sustained use patterns, this project is part of the overall community's effort to achieve water sustainability and support the current beneficial uses for the long term. 1) The water activity is consistent with Section 37-75-102 Colorado Revised Statutes. The requirements/language from the statute is provided in Part 3 of the Criteria and Guidelines. This activity is consistent with the above referenced statute, In addition, the voluntary placement of conservation easements, which include securing water rights to the land, is both allowed, encouraged and funded by numerous federal, state and local statutes, policies, funding sources and programs through the Page 8 of 32 Rio Grande Initiative Janual'Y 2008