Rio Grande - Rio Grande Initiative_Application_2008

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NA 1. The applicant has an existing water conservation plan. NA m. The water activity will make new water available for use. Note that in our over appropriated system, this project aims to stabilize water use patterns that currently supply many important consumptive uses and sustain many important nonconsumptive needs. If these uses and needs are not sustained, they will have severe detrimental impacts on our community, our economy, our wildlife and our public safety. And we can envision no potential sources of "new" water that could provide for these uses or fulfill these functions if the water rights are changed to other uses-so it is in the best interest of the Rio Grande Basin and the State of Colorado to protect these waters and lands in their current patterns of use. n. The water activity involves reoperation, enlargement, or rehabilitation of existing facilities. NA The Water Activity Addresses Issues of Statewide Value o. The water activity helps sustain agriculture, and open space, or meets environmental or recreational needs. The Rio Grande Initiative addresses this entire objective explicitly, as it is a direct means of sustaining agricultural land and water, protecting open space, and ensuring critical wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities remain intact -- with adequate water to sustain them, in perpetuity. Considering the State's considerable investment in the preservation of agricultural lands along the Rio Grande in perpetuity, the CWCB will be provided the deed restrictions associated with the conservation easements. A sample deed of conservation easement, including language required by the Division of Wildlife and Great Outdoors Colorado, with RiGHT's deed restrictions will be submitted to the CWCR This will make plain the ways in which the proposed water activity helps sustain agriculture and open space, and meets environmental and recreational needs. p. The water activity assists in the administration of compact-entitled waters or addresses problems related to compact entitled waters and compact compliance and the degree to which the activity promotes maximum utilization of state waters. The Rio Grande Initiative addresses this objective by sustaining historic water use patterns, including maintaining the riparian wetlands and agricultural lands that provide return flows to the Rio Grande, thus enhancing the Division Engineer's ability to administer the Rio Grande and its Compact for the maximum benefit of Colorado. (See attached letter of support from Division 3 Engineer, CDWR). q. The water activity assists in the recovery of threatened and endangered wildlife species or Colorado state species of concern. The Rio Grande Initiative explicitly supports the efforts of the RGWCD to implement an HCP for the federally endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, recently delisted Bald Eagle and candidate species Yellow Billed Cuckoo. The HCP specifically includes and depends upon current and additional conserved private lands as a key strategy for its success and long term maintenance of these species. In addition, conservation of key land and water on the river corridor will help sustain our Gold Medal fisheries and the numerous species of waterfowl, other birds, mammals and reptiles which depend upon the river corridor. It will also help to buffer the three existing SW As and the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge, which will contribute to the long term success of the HCP. Page 20 of 32 Rio Grande Initiative Janual'Y 2008