C150269 feasibility Study - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ** If Rio Grande flows through the Del Norte gauging station are less than 200,000 acre- feet for April through September, water availability will be reduced to water in priority from rights included in decree. *** Reasonable estimate because 95% confidence analysis does not directly apply to this decree. **** Estimate although decree not yet approved. 2.3 Water Demand Near term potential existing water augmentation needs include towns and potato storage facilities. The State Engineer Office has indicated that they will promulgate rules and regulations on all wells within the Rio Grande Basin within one to three years. The rules and regulations are likely to require all non-exempt wells to replace their depletions to senior surface water rights. Most irrigation well owners are working together to develop plans for replacement of injurious depletions, wells supplying municipal and commercial uses are not likely to be included in the irrigation well owners' plan. It is difficult to estimate the extent of the water augmentation needs of existing municipal and commercial needs, but it is almost certain to be significant. The Town of South Fork has contacted the District to express a potential augmentation need in the range of 10 to 50 acre-feet per year. It has been learned that a significant number of potato storage facilities are operating using wells that are not properly decreed for commercial use. Representatives of these well users have requested assistance from the District. Estimates of water augmentation needs for this group of users are in the range of 200 to 300 acre-feet per year. Total augmentation water sold through year 2007 is :!:328 acre-feet per year. Comparing water sold to estimated water availability as tabulated in Table 2-1 (365-328), at the end of 2007 the District could sell an additional 37 acre-feet per year of water from its Augmentation Program. A chart showing acre-feet of water sold per year by the District from its Augmentation Program is included as Figure 2-1. The chart shows significant peaks in water sales which correspond to demands from large new developments. However, the trend, as shown as a straight line, indicates that annual demand for augmentation water has increased since the District's Program was established. The trend line indicates augmentation water demand has reached a level of ::1::30 acre-feet per year. To control the water demand and prevent exhausting their remaining available water on a large development, the District has adopted an interim policy for large potential water users. Those seeking augmentation water in amounts exceeding three (3) acre-feet must provide water rights with consumptive use at least equal to their needs to the District in partial exchange for augmentation water. The District can then add these conveyed water rights to its Augmentation Program through a Water Court approved augmentation plan. This policy will remain in effect E01662 7 (lJ~ S,NCE iiwm "~. ll/l:iiZ. J948 """"crJ"""'""'J'''-',''' ~~:-:-:~::.... s:f'lB'J'l'.C~~l:l.'~':J~ /~)i-s'" ~.~ ~~1l~:l-t:a" :JfiJt.