Rio Grande - Manassa Conejos River & N Branch Stablization_Application

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Water Supply Reserve Account - Grant Application Form Form Revised May 2007 C.R.S.. This water activity will take place in the Rio Grande Basin, 2) it meets the eligibility categories described below, and 3) this proposal is submitted for approved by the Rio Grande Interbasin Roundtable in conformity with criteria and guidelines jointly developed by the IBCC and CWCB. • This water activity meets the eligibility requirements as required in Part 2 of the criteria and guidelines as detailed above. The water activity is consistent with Section 37-75-102 C.R.S. because this Project restores, repairs, and upgrades existing channel courses, structures, and riparian areas. This Project therefore does not supersede, abrogate, or otherwise impair the State's current system of allocating water within Colorado nor does it in any manner repeal or amend the existing water rights adjudication system. This Project does not affect the State Constitution's recognition of water rights as a private usufructuaiv property right nor is it intended to restrict the ability of the holder of a water right to use or to dispose of that water right in any manner permitted under Colorado law. By repairing, restoring and stabilizing the Conejos river channel, this Project supports Colorado's continuing ability to meet its Rio Grande Compact obligations. 3. The water activity underwent an evaluation and approval process and was approved by the Interbasin Roundtable (IBRT) and the application includes a description of the results of the IBRTs evaluation and approval of the activity. At a minimum, the description must include the level of agreement reached by the roundtable, including any minority opinion(s) if there was not general agreement for the activity. The description must also include reasons why general agreement was not reached (if it w-as not), including who opposed the activity and why they- opposed it. Note- If this information is included in the letter from the roundtable chair simply reference that letter. • This information is included in the cover letter from the Rio Grande Interbasin Roundtable. 4. The water activity meets the provisions of Section 37-75-104(2), Colorado Revised Statutes. The requirements/language from the statute is provided in Part 3 of the Criteria and Guidelines. This water activity meets the provisions of Section 37-75-104 (2) C.R.S. in that MLI has actively sought the input and advice of all local affected county and municipal govermnents, including the Town of Manassa, Conejos Board of County Cormnissioners, the Division III Engineer, Conejos Conservancy District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rod Ruybaled of Colorado Fish and Wildlife, District Wildlife Manager Brent Woodward of the Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Division of Wildlife fish biologist John Alves, as well as land owners in the affected unincorporated communities in this reach of the Conejos River and its watershed. MLI has also consulted with the Rio Grande Water Conservation District, and Alarmosa Riverkeepers. All land owners and priority shares on the MLI system are aware of this river channel and riparian problem and are looking forward to its solution. All previous makeshift home-grown and spontaneous measures taken over the years by land owners along this stretch of the Conejos have been stop-gap measures to prevent erosion of the north bank of the Conejos, to no avail. All stakeholders are familiar with the difficulty in obtaining decreed water rights and meeting priority calls. MLI is prepared to realign the channel and install new Core and Diversion Gates using proven structures and technologies 6