Division 1 Annual Report 1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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? ? limits of Loveland upstream to the Eaistem Boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park. This office also looked along the St Vrain River (District 5) from the Town of Lyons tto its headwaters and along the Left Hand Creek Drainage from its' conffuence with St. Vrain Creek to its' headwaters. In the Big Thompson drainage, many pleople have submitted change of ownership requests for their wells and have obtained forms to late register their historic uses of pre-1972 wells. Over 140 persons have joined a subs#itute supply plan call WAR that involves the use of CBT to replace water being diverted directly from the Big Thompson River. In addition, commercial water users and others have joined a substitute supply plan for the Big Thompson River that wi(( replace depletions associated with illegal well usage. This plan developed by the Continental Water Bank will eventually be taken to water court. Many people have chosen to cease the watering of their lawns instead vf augmenting for out-of-priorit,y uses. We are watching potential violators closely and in the 1999 water year we only fouiid one person who attempted to irrigate without joining any plan. We contacted that person and they ceased diverting water. During 2000, th'rs office will issue cease and desist orders to any individuals who have not joined one of the plans and continue the illegai use of their Wvells or surtace water diversions. As a result of 1998-1999 efforts, the number of parties participating in the substitute supply plan that is operated by the Left Hand and St. Vrain Water Conservancy District has increased to 140. This project has been getting positive results in eliminating iliegaf water usage. The water commissioner wiN continue monitoring water users who are illegally diverting water. This will primarily involve our following up on last year's contacts and issuing cease and desist orders if needed. It is planned that during 2000 the water commissioner will look downstream of Lyons for similar illegal water uses. DWR MOU with DOW and Water Qualitv A new statewide Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was developed and signed in 1997. This MOU involves both exchanges and resenroir operations. An annual review of the MOU has occurred since the MOU was signed by all three agencies. It has woriced well when we are given advance notice by reservoir owners of activities that may present a risk to the fishery or aquatic ecosystem. During the past year Strontia Reservoir operations to flush sediments occurred with advance notice to DOW in such a way that no negative impacts occurred. Tamarack Development C olorado's Tamarack Plan utilizes numerous managed groundwater recharge projects in the lower South Platte River in Colorado to develop water contributions to a Platte Basin ESA Program. These groundwater recharge projects involve the diversion of excess river flows by wells next to the river or by ditches to = groundwater recharge basins. The seepage from these recharge basins retums through the groundwater aquifer to the river at a later time to augment river flows. The lower South Platte River in Colorado is a gaining river system. The alluvial groundwater aquifer drains into the river channel because water levels in the aquifer are higher in elevation than river water (evels. The increase in river flows as a result of the retum 6