08 ‎(5)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 11/18/2008
• Description: IWMD Section - Alternative Agricultural Water Transfer Methods Grant Program
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us
Bill Ritter, Jr.
TO: CWCB Members
Governor
Harris D. Sherman
FROM: Todd Doherty
DNR Executive Director
Jennifer L. Gimbel
DATE: November 9, 2008
CWCB Director
Dan McAuliffe
Agenda Item 8—November 18-19, 2008 Board Meeting
SUBJECT:
CWCB Deputy Director
Intrastate Water Management and Development--
Alternative Agricultural Water Transfer Methods Grant Program
Staff Recommendation:
a. CSU—Southern Regional extension Office:
Staff recommends funding up to $80,350 for th e Effects of Land Fallowing Study in the
Lower Arkansas Valley contingent upon th e Applicant satisfact orily addressing the
concerns in the issues/additional needs section of the attached summary sheet.
b. High Line Canal Company:
Staff recommends funding up to $70,000 for the High Line Canal Water Leasing Project
contingent upon the Appli cant satisfactorily addressi ng the concerns in the
issues/additional needs section of the attached summary sheet.
c. Colorado Corn Growers:
Staff recommends funding up to $349,650 for the Development of Practical Alternative
Agricultural Water Transfer Measures fo r Colorado Irrigated Agriculture Project
contingent upon the Appli cant satisfactorily addressi ng the concerns in the
issues/additional needs section of the attached summary sheet.
d. Parker Water and Sanitation District:
Considering the competitive nature of this grant program and previous CWCB funding of
the Lower South Platte Demonstrati on Project (approximately $627,000), staff
recommends denying this grant request to promote a diverse group of projects.
Background
The Legislature approved the Colorado Water Conservation (CWCB) to develop a competitive
grant program to advance various agricultural transfer methods as alternatives to permanent dry-
up in the Arkansas and South Plat te Basins (authorized under SB 07-122). This was in part a
response to the increasing concer n that the growing popul ation and the associated urbanization is
resulting in record levels of agricultural land dry-up. The Statewide Water Supply Initiative
(SWSI) indicated that over 500,000 i rrigated acres could be lost by 2030 with most of those in
Water Supply Protection • Watershed Protection & Flood Mitigatio n • Stream & Lake Protection • Water Supply Planning & Finance
Water Conservation & Drought Planning • In trastate Water Management & Development