Southwest - La Plata West Rural Domestic Water Supply_Statewide Application

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WATER SUPPLY RESERVE ACCOUNT- EVALUATION CRITERIA LA PLATA WEST RURAL DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM 3. Evaluation Criteria Promotin~ Collaboration and Coooeration a) The water activity addresses multiple needs or issues, includinG consumptive and/or non- consumptive needs, or the needs and issues of multiple interests or multiple basins. The water supply system is being designed to provide access to ALP water for several different parties. The water supply system will serve existing rural residents in need of domestic supply as well as provide for reasonable growth in outlying parts of the county. The water source, which has been allocated under ALP agreements, will bring a new supply to the very water-poor La Plata River basin, thereby alleviating some of the county's dependence on Durango. b) The number and types of entities represented in the application and the deGree to which the activity will promote cooperation and collaboration amonG traditional consumptive water interests and/or non-consumptive interests, and if applicable, the deGree to which the water activity is effective in addressinG intrabasin or interbasin needs or issues. As stated above, the project will serve several different entities potentially including the residents of southwest La Plata County, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Upper La Plata Water Users Association (New Mexico). In addition, the project will be achieved through the work of several parties, including local, state and federal entities. This project, which will use ALP waters for supply, will alleviate competition within the La Plata River basin for limited groundwater resources and assist in meeting the La Plata River Compact requirements on this over-allocated river. Facilitatin~ Water Activitv Imolementation c) FundinG from this Account will reduce the uncertainty that the water activity will be implemented. For this criterion the applicant should discuss how receivinG fundinG from the Account will make a siGnificant difference in the implementation of the water activity (i.e., how will receivinG fundinG enable the water activity to move forward). The LPWWA has developed a project plan based on extensive feasibility studies and the collaboration of local entities. There is a clear plan for advancing the water supply system and coordinating timing with ALP construction. At this time, it is critical to progress with the development of the intake structure. This includes the planning and permitting as well as design engineering, which will be funded by this grant. d) The lenGth of time needed to implement the water activity: preference will be Given to activities which can be implemented in the least amount of time takinG into consideration the complexity of the activity. The intake structure must be completed before filling of Lake Nighthorse in 2009. Therefore, all tasks outlined in this grant proposal are already in progress or will be undertaken in the near future (see attached schedule).