Notes and Templates from PRRIP Meeting

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Notes from March 21, 2007 Platte River Recovery Implementation Program meeting SPWRAP serves as the vehicle by which Colorado water users may participate in the Program and obtain regulatory benefits provided by that Program. Through membership assessments, SPWRAP generates the funds necessary to provide human resources and assist the State in: (a) achieving required re-regulation of South Platte River flows (Depletion Plan), (b) fulfilling its Program accounting and reporting requirements, and (c) addressing any shortfalls in State funding for this effort. By being members of SPWRAP, Colorado water users also are assured representation om the Program Governance Committee and associated advisory committees. A certificate of inembership in good standing in SPWRAP will be a prerequisite for water users who wish to rely on the Program for ESA compliance relative to these Platte target species. All members are assessed a membership fee at the time of their joining and willpay annual assessments in most cases based on that member's type of water use (agricultural, municipal, industrial, etc.), the magnitude of water use (e.g., acres irrigated, customers served), and revenues needed to meet Program obligations. SPWRAP provides standardized reporting forms to help prospective members calculate corresponding assessments, which were determined by SPWRAP to reflect the costs of operating this non-profit corporation. SPWRAP's first year of operation is 2007. Project proponents can become members immediately or at a future date. However, entities which become members in later years . will be assessed at a rate that addresses SPWRAP costs from Year l. "Small" Depletions covered by SPWRAP SPWRAP has recently created a"small depletions" category. A small depletion is defined as an average annual depletion of 25 acre-feet or less. This category is available regardless of water use type; municipal, agricultural, hydro, industrial, etc. SPWRAP wants to make sure that there is no "piece-mealing" of this category. We shouldn't have a project divided up into pieces such that the individual pieces are each under 25 ac-ft, but collectively exceed much more than 25 ac-ft. SPWRAP proposes that this category is valid until a cumulative limit of 1,000 ac-ft is reached; at which time they reserve the right to reassess future requirements for Colorado participants. The fee for the SPWRAP small depletion category is $500 for the entire first increment, whether that's 13 years or longer. One size f Es all. SPWRAP views this as a bargain compared to the actual cost of replacing water by retiring some other existing use. Colorado and the CO Water Users strongly feel that anyone intendin tg o rely on the Program within Colorado must sign the Recovery Agreement. 4