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Water Supply Reserve Account - Grant Application Form <br />Form Revised May 2007 <br />Fully 90% of SMR's mater goes through the Rio Grande Canal and 10% goes through <br />the Monte Vista Canal (Attachment B). In addition, Continental and Santa Maria store <br />Rio Grande Compact crater. The studies in this project help to ensure Colorado 's <br />continuing ability to meet its Compact obligations. Maxinnim utilization of State craters is <br />implied by the Rio Grande Basin Roundtable's priority of maintaining sustainable crater <br />supplies and by ensuring that SMR has the operational flexibility to adapt to changing <br />conditions. This project addresses both of those goals. Continental and Santa Maria <br />support Colorado's Rio Grande Compact administration, provide flood control during <br />high river foti>> conditions, provide consen?ation pools for the CDOW, and provide <br />storage for the San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District and irrigators doti1'nstream <br />in the San Luis Valley. <br />q. The water activity assists in the recovery of threatened and endangered wildlife species <br />or Colorado state species of concern. <br />The CDOW is asking for the assistance of SMR in reaching its mater use goals and <br />objectives (RickBasagoitia's letter in Attachment F). The ('DOW has mater i°ights to 3 <br />Transmountain diversions. Storing additional CDOW hater in Santa Maria provides an <br />added degree of flexibility in planning for the most beneficial use to tirildlife. It converts <br />ichat eras seen before as a seepage problem into a productive fishery and increases <br />riparian habitat. Both reservoirs are visited fi°equently by the bald eagle. Documented <br />habitat exists in dense irilloir patches ofdoirnstreani riparian conni nn.ties belotij, 8,500' <br />elevation along the Rio Grande and along smaller tributaries in the Valley for the <br />southirestern irilloij flycatcher and the yelloir-billed cuckoo (Attachment H). Expanded <br />storage capacity at Continental and Santa Maria and improved function of the floodplain <br />specifically assist in the protection of these many other species, frith irrigated lands <br />providing habitatfor iildlife nesting, shelter and forage. In addition, the release of <br />Transmountain tirater throughout the year provides options to maintain a `lore floir' in <br />the Rio Grande and its tributaries, promoting the maintenance offish populations and <br />related recreational activities(Attcichment H). <br />r. The water activity provides a high level of benefit to Colorado in relationship to the <br />amount of funds requested. <br />The benefits of an enlarged and fully operational Continental and Santa Maria system <br />satisfy all of the objectives outlined in the Colorado Water Consen?ation Board's 2004 <br />Stateiride Water Supply Initiative Study. This neater activity reduces soil erosion, <br />enhances irater° supplies, improves crater quality, increases tirildlife habitat, and reduces <br />potential damages caused by floods and other natural disasters. Public benefits also <br />include protecting the natural resources that help sustain high-value agricultural <br />productivity and environmental quality in the San Luis Valley, it hile supporting <br />continued economic development, recreation, and scenic beauty. <br />14