14eStateEngineer

• Board Meeting Date: 9/16/2008
• Description: Director's Report - State Engineer
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

is a request for an addendum for an additional 30,000 acres, all within four (4) miles
of the stream system.
Third, we presented our augmentation plan and accounting procedures to the
Republican River Compact Administration (RRCA) on March 12, 2008 for iultimate
approval of Colorado's Compact Compliance Pipeline. We have attended several
informational and technical meetings since then. Several water users groups,
represented by their attorneys, and other entities in the basin have supporiled us at
these meetings and I want them to know that we appreciate their support, especially
the Republican River Water Conservation District (RRWCD). We are continuing
negotiations with Kansas and Nebraska officials on approval of the augmentation
plan. The pipeline is still scheduled for construction starting in January 2009 with
scheduled water deliveries for compact compliance by September 2009. 1"his
project was made possible in part by a $60.6M loan made by the Colorado Water
Conservation Board and approval by the General Assembly this session. ~JVe hope
to gain approval from the RRCA within the next few months.
Fourth, we are looking into proposed operation plans for Bonny Reservoir ito achieve
compact compliance. On August 14th, I ordered the release of approximately 2,000
acre-feet of water from Bonnie Reservoir that has occurred due to heavy rains since
August 4th. That order will apply to all future inflows and accretions. This vas done
to comply with the compact. We have been working with the Bureau of Reclamation
for some time on this issue and have tried to accommodate some of their concerns
regarding administration of Bonny Reservoir. We will continue to work clo:>ely with
the Bureau on this difficult issue. I understand the hardship this imposes o~n the
BOR, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Division of Wildlife, and the users of
the facilities at Bonny State Park and Wildlife Area but compliance is not
discretionary and I will continue to take such actions to assure that Coloraco will
comply with the Compact.
Finally, my office has initiated the process to promulgate rules and regulations
governing the diversion, use and control of water resources in the basin. 1'he rules if
necessary will assist water administration officials in meeting Colorado's ok~ligations
under the Republican River Compact through curtailment of surface water
diversions, ground water pumping, and out-of-priority reservoir storage. At this
juncture I continue to receive comments on the rules and will thoughtfully consider
what the next steps may be in the context of moving forward with these Compact
Rules or holding them in abeyances in perspective of our other efforts that include
land retirement and the augmentation plan currently under consideration b~/ the
RRCA.
Other actions with the basin include an agreement that was reached between
ground water users in the Northern High Plains Designated Ground Water Basin and
numerous senior surface water right users on the North Fork of the Republican
River. The dispute was set for a three week trial before the Colorado Ground Water
Commission's Hearing Officer, Joseph (Jody) Grantham. On Friday, June 6, Mr.
Grantham signed an order vacating the proceedings pending completion of all
necessary terms of the settlement. Non-compliance with the terms will result in the
hearing being held in January/February of 2009. This case involves the potential de-
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