South Platte - ParkerSummarySheet

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Alternative Agricultural Water Transfer Methods -Grant and Loan Program Project Summary Sheet Applicant: Parker Water and Sanitation District Water Activity Name: Lower South Platte Irrigation Research and Demonstration Project Amount Requested: $725,000 Matching Funds: No (Applicant is requesting that monies spent to date be considered as matching funds). $489,025 has been spent by Applicant to date. Drainage Basin: South Platte River Water Source: South Platte River Project Summary: The overall purpose of this study is to provide much needed water supplies to urban interests for municipal and industrial use, while protecting the rural economies in areas where some, but not all, of the water is removed from agricultural use. The need for this study is to explore alternative means to agricultural water transfers, without using the traditional "buy and dry" concept that can be harmful to rural economies, so that both rural and urban interests can benefit from a more beneficial approach for both interests that involves a cooperative effort and helps sustain both economies. Because of the growth expected in PWSD and the reliance on Denver Basin water, which the Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) identified as raising serious reliability and sustainability concerns, PWSD is trying to reduce its dependence on these non-renewable resources. As SWSI points outs, there is going to be increased competition for water, and in-basin solutions and conservation should be initial steps used to help meet future municipal demands. PWSD has already accomplished these tasks (see application). PWSD has appropriated all of the remaining in-priority water in Cherry Creek, its local renewable water supply, and will manage the use of this water and its available reusable water, through Rueter-Hess Reservoir. PWSD has also implemented an aggressive water conservation plan that has resulted in a 40 percent reduction of water demand over the past 20 years. These plans, while reducing the use of Denver Basin water, are not enough to fully reduce PWSD's dependence on non-renewable resources. PWSD recognizes that additional renewable water supplies can be developed from the agricultural sector, but wishes to do it in a manner that minimizes the effects on the rural economy. It is for this reason that PWSD has partnered with Colorado State University (CSU) to evaluate means to make historic consumptive use water from agriculture available to PWSD, and potentially other municipal water providers, while still maintaining viable farming operations. PWSD is not interested in the "buy and dry" concept that has historically