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Alternative Agricultural Water Transfer Methods -Grant Application Form <br />January 2008 <br />The grant applicants seek to promote the practical utilization of alternative agricultural water <br />transfer methods in Colorado by building on the work completed by the Statewide Mater Supply <br />Initiative (Colorado's ?Ylater Supply Future, Statewide ?Ylater Supply Initiative -Phase 2), the basin <br />needs reports (Interim dater Supply and Needs Report for the South Platte Basin and <br />Denver?South 1Vletro Counties and Mater Supply and Needs Report for the Arkansas Basin), <br />learnings from DU experience in the use of agricultural water rights for the development of <br />wetlands and wildlife habitat, learnings from Aurora's experience in transfers and leases of <br />agricultural water for municipal and industrial purposes, and the experience and research conducted <br />by other team members including the CIRRI concerning alternative agricultural water transfer <br />measures. In addition, the Team also seeks to compliment or to enhance the work done by other <br />recipients of these grant funds. To avoid duplication of efforts and repetition of work by others, <br />the Team would like to work with the C?1CB to identify items of work in this project that appear to <br />be duplicative of other work and, to the extent possible, adjust the scope of work to incorporate <br />other work. <br />Ducks Unlimited <br />Ducks Unlimited has aten-year history along the South Platte River in Colorado of working <br />cooperatively with agricultural producers, municipalities and industry to provide water through <br />alternative agricultural water transfers and that provide water for multiple benefits. They have <br />extensive knowledge of the South Platte River from Platteville to the Stateline with regard to dealing <br />with issues of alternative agricultural water transfers and implementation of water resources <br />projects. New relationships built primarily through the South Platte Roundtable have encouraged <br />DU to seek partnerships interested in alternative agricultural water transfers that maintain irrigated <br />agriculture. These partnerships have developed in the Front Range watersheds of the South Platte, <br />in the Metro Roundtable member counties, and in municipalities including Fort Collins and Greeley. <br />Historically, DU has constructed typical recharge wetlands or ponds conducive to providing high <br />quality habitat for migrating waterfowl. These projects contribute several other benefits including <br />recreational hunting, bird watching and water quality improvements through contamination filtering. <br />In addition, these projects have for many years provided recharge credits to agricultural producers <br />or to wildlife agencies through various agreements and contracts. After several years of experience, <br />and some changes in water transfers, DU believes that the operation of recharge wetlands could <br />enhance and promote alternative transfers of agricultural water to municipalities and industry. This <br />can be done by leasing unused recharge credits to municipalities and industry, by facilitating <br />rotational fallowing or interruptible supply plans through conservation easements, and by providing <br />improved wetland management on portions of agricultural property while maintaining crop <br />production on the rest of the property. <br />7