Laserfiche WebLink
Alternative Agricultural Water Transfer Methods -Grant Application Form <br />January 2008 <br />Aurora <br />The City of Aurora, Colorado is a relatively new suburb to Denver and is the third largest city in the <br />state, with a population of nearly 312,000. For Aurora ?Xlater, meeting the increased thirst of a <br />burgeoning city is a challenge. Continued growth and a possibly dwindling water supply have <br />necessitated an evaluation of the city's water infrastructure and "out-of--the-box" planning to ensure <br />that a reliable water supply is available for the future. In 2002, low rainfall and runoff brought the <br />system's vulnerability to attention. ?X1ith seemingly no water available to increase storage levels, <br />reservoir capacity fell to 26 percent in March 2003, well below the desired minimum level and an <br />adequate supply for less than 1 year of indoor use in the City. This situation made perfectly clear the <br />need for guaranteed reliability in the face of continued pressure on available water supplies. <br />To meet these needs and enhance the ability to protect against prolonged drought, many projects <br />are being undertaken. The Prairie ?Xlaters Project, slated for completion in mid-2010, is an example <br />of the insightful planning that is taking place in Aurora. ?Ylhen completed, this project will deliver <br />fully reusable water from approximately 35 miles away, pumping the supply back to the City for <br />treatment and incorporation in the City's water system. The City is also negotiating with several <br />mining companies to develop gravel pit storage reservoirs to improve operational flexibility and <br />increase the ability to capture every drop of supply before it is permanently lost from the system. An <br />additional effort being undertaken is the assessment of senior water rights along the South Platte <br />River for increased water supply. The City wants to understand the alternatives available for creating <br />necessary supplies during times of need while supporting the agricultural industry in collaborative <br />ways. The Alternatives Agricultural Mater Transfer Methods work product is expected to be <br />valuable to the City in evaluating various "win-win" scenarios available to agricultural land and water <br />rights owners and other water users on the South Platte River. <br />The City is not without experience in working with agricultural interests on mutually beneficial <br />projects. In the Arkansas River basin in 2003, the City entered into atwo-year lease program with <br />the Highline Ditch Company. This heavily subscribed program involved the implementation of <br />more efficient farming practices, temporary transfer of the "saved" water and a price per applicable <br />acre paid to each subscriber. The lease was largely viewed as a success by both the City and the local <br />community. In similar fashion, the City would be interested in pursuing other opportunities such as <br />this one in the lower South Platte basin, including multiple year, mutually beneficial agreements. <br />Aurora would like to work with agricultural interests to develop shared Business Plans, whereby the <br />City maybe able to cover water shortfalls (such as those occasionally experienced under <br />augmentation plans) in exchange for supplies under other identified conditions. Moreover, as a <br />broader water resources planning effort, Aurora would like to build lasting relationships and <br />establish trust in discussions and negotiations. <br />Colorado dater Resources Research Institute <br />The Colorado ?Xlater Resources Research Institute (C?1RRI) is a partner in this project, and they will <br />8