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