IBCC Meeting notes - 5-15-08

• Title: IBCC Meeting Notes 5/08
• Date: 5/15/2008
• Interbasin CC - Doc Type: Meeting Notes

Welcome, Introduction, and Agenda Review
Harris Sherman and Eric Hecox started the meeting and welcomed the group.
Opportunities and Challenges of Agricultural Water Conservation Measures
The Colorado Agriculture Water Alliance's Don Shawcroft and Mark Sponsler
Presented a paper on Opportunities and Challenges of Agricultural Water Conservation. They gave
a background on the organization. The Ag water summit in 2005 and the recent drought showed the
need for an agriculture water voice in water policy issues statewide. They consist of 11 of
Colorado's agricultural orgaiuzations. There was a discussion about how Ag conservation will
solve the water problems, and it was determined to look at its reach, possibilities, limitations, etc. as
well as saved and salvaged water, and what water can actually be transferred. Related to conserved
consumptive use water, there were 5 recognized ways to reduce consumptive use. The paper
discussed reduced yields, including who aught bear the costs, possible legal hurdles, and the need
for a basin by basin analysis, and the benefit from Agriculture on Nonconsumptive use issues
associated with salinity.
Decisions and Major Points: The paper and presentation will be posted on the IBCC website.
Discussion of Education and Outreach Activities
Rita Cnunpton discussed the Legislative Mandate for the IBCC's Public Education, Participation,
and Outreach (PEPO) Work Group. PEPO is moving to next levelBRT shall seek advice and
input of local providers as they develop their needs assessments. PEPO would like input from the
IBCC in this regard. Marylou facilitated a discussion with the IBCC.
Marv Lour Smith: Specific language about public input-how do we get public input with regard to
needs assessments -best way to do this? Any ideas for meaningful dialogue?
~Iay Wir~fzer: Educate our children and they educate the adults
T. Wi•~ght Dickinson: IBCC's role -having substantive discussion of the major issues. If the IBCC
is dealing with substantive issues then the newspapers write articles and do the education for us.
The IBCC should be a serious forum to debate real issues.
Eric Hecox: What materials, presentation, etc. would facilitate this? How can the IBCC process
(1400) help?
Eric Ktrhy~: Not necessarily what you're doing but how you're doing it? Transparency is critical.
Eric Wilkir~sorz: We need to focus on the sphere of people involved in solving the issues. Visioning
example - we should get it to a point where it is a document so that people can shoot at it. South
Platte Roundtable would love to have something to chew on.