Rio Grande - Rio Grande Initiative_Application_2008

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The Rio Grande Initiative directly meets numerous consumptive and nonconsumptive needs objectives as identified in SWSI. And it goes beyond the objectives identified at that time to provide a proactive approach towards overall water sustainability for the Rio Grande Basin, the core goal of the Rio Grande Basin Round Table. It is a direct implementation of land and water protection to insure that future water needs are met and to help prevent new and widening gaps in our water supply that could occur otherwise. If those gaps widen, we would be faced with fewer and fewer choices in the future to sustain the critical needs that our current water supply and water use patterns now sustain. For example, we do not foresee that a ranch that sells and is developed for residential purposes will ever be restored to its former state. As we see occurring now: . the developed ranch's water rights will be changed and used to augment wells for new homes, . the wetlands and wildlife habitat that it sustains will be diminished when formerly irrigated lands are dried up under the change of water use, . the other water users on the same ditch will be subject to innumerable complications in accessing and delivering their water rights, . new roads across the flood plain will create levies that disturb the flow of flood waters and create new hazards, . the historic return flows previously provided by those irrigated lands will no longer be available to the river, thus diminishing late season flows, . and these changes will be permanent. In contrast, a conserved ranch will: . sustain historic water use patterns, . continue to provide all of the historic functions, . sustain families in agricultural production, . sustain wetlands and wildlife, . sustain return flows, . provide an open flood plain in times of high water, . and provide scenic beauty and on-going recreational opportunities. Please see question #4 above for a full discussion of this project as it relates to SWSI. In addition, the Rio Grande Initiative is one key component of the overall progress toward water sustainability for the Rio Grande Basin. It is a keystone of the Rio Grande Basin Round Table's core objective to create sustainability of our basin's water. It is also highly complementary to the efforts of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District Board in terms of 1) restoring the SL V's aquifer, flood plain, and river function, 2) sustaining agricultural water uses, and 3) successful long-term implementation of the HCP for the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Bald Eagle and Yellow-Billed Cuckoo. As noted above in the answer to question #4, of the nine water management objectives, the Rio Grande Initiative addresses the following 7 objectives: 1. sustainably meet agricultural demands; 2. optimize existing and future water supplies; 3. enhance recreational opportunities; 4. provide for environmental enhancements; 5. protect cultural values; 6. provide for operational flexibility; and 7. comply with all applicable laws regulations, and water rights. k. The water activity promotes water conservation and efficiency. Page 19 of 32 Rio Grande Initiative Janual'Y 2008