South Platte - Parker W&SD_LSP IrrigationResearch&Demo_Application_Nov2008

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Alternative Agricultural Water Transfer Methods -Grant Application Form January 2008 Part B. - Description of the Alternative Water Transfer ProgramlProject - 1. Purpose of the Program/Project Please provide a summary of the proposed program/project, including a statement of what the programlproject is intended to accomplish, the need for the program/project, the problems and opportunities to be addressed, the expectations of the applicant(s), and why the program/project is important to the applicant(s). The summary must include a description of the technical, institutional (i.e., how the programlproject will be organized and operated), and legal elements that will and/or have been addressed by the applicant and proposed programlproject. The summary should also discuss relevant project history, if applicable, and any other relevant issues. Previous Studies To the maximum extent possible, the results of any previous studies and investigation should be utilized and incorporated into the proposed program/project. The application for funding should include a brief summary of the results of previous studies and how they will be utilized. The overall up rpose of this study is to provide much needed water supplies to urban interests for municipal and industrial use, while protecting the rural economies in areas where some, but not all, of the water is removed from agricultural use. The need for this study is to explore alternative means to agricultural water transfers, without using the traditional "buy and dry" concept that can be harmful to rural economies, so that both rural and urban interests can benefit from a more beneficial approach for both interests that involves a cooperative effort and helps sustain both economies. Because of the growth expected in PWSD and the reliance on Denver Basin water, which the Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) identified as raising serious reliability and sustainability concerns, PWSD is trying to reduce its dependence on these non-renewable resources. As SWSI points outs, there is going to be increased competition for water, and in-basin solutions and conservation should be initial steps used to help meet future municipal demands. PWSD has already accomplished these tasks, as described in Part A, Section 4. PWSD has appropriated all of the remaining in-priority water in Cherry Creek, its local renewable water supply, and will manage the use of this water and its available reusable water, through Rueter-Hess Reservoir. PWSD has also implemented an aggressive water conservation plan that has resulted in a 40 percent reduction of water demand over the past 20 years. These plans, while reducing the use of Denver Basin water, are not enough to fully reduce PWSD's dependence on non-renewable resources. PWSD recognizes that additional renewable water supplies can be developed from the agricultural sector, but wishes to do it in a manner that minimizes the effects on the rural economy. It is for this reason that PWSD has partnered with Colorado State University (CSU) to evaluate means to make historic consumptive use water from agriculture available to PWSD, and potentially other municipal water providers, while still maintaining viable farming operations. PWSD is not interested in the "buy and dry" concept that has historically been used to take water from irrigated farmland. The project seeks to develop a sustainable model that municipal and industrial water users can follow when meeting water demands through agricultural transfers. This sustainability model seeks to meet growing water demands while maintaining viable irrigated agricultural systems. 5