Agenda, QuickReport, and Minutes of South Platte Lower River Group, Inc.

Home Browse Search

• MINUTES OF THE SOUTH PLATTE LOWER RIVER GROUP, INC. January 15, 2004 President Steve Treadway called the meeting of the South Platte Lower River Group, Inc. (SPLRG) to order. 23 were present, including two Directors. Jon A. made a motion, seconded by John Van Sciver to renominate same officers for 2004. No additional nominations were made. Kevin Urie made a motion, seconded by John Van Sciver to close the nomination. A unanimous vote occurred to retain current officers. Louis Rinaldo moved to approve the Minutes of November 5, 2003. Seconded by Kevin Urie. Unanimously passed. A discussion was held on the financial report. Louis Rinaldo moved and Kevin Urie seconded to accept the financial report. Unanimously passed. GASP has not been to the last few SPLRG meetings. Steve Treadway will talk to Phil Mortensen of GASP and Alan Berryman will send a letter requesting GASP to confirm their SPLRG status. Jim Hall, Division Engineer, discussed river conditions and administration. Good storm in March 2003 saved us for getting North Sterling and Prewitt filled. Sept and October 2003 have been very dry. Currently snow pact is 70% of average in the overall South Platte but about 55% above Denver. Julesburg Reservoir call was on Nov 1 until Dec 21, 2003. Aug wells pumped providing about 70 cfs well depletion replacement to the Julesburg call. Need another good spring storm or much more snow to get North Sterling and Prewitt full for 2004. North Sterling is at 40% full and Prewitt at 30% full. North Sterling needs to be full by April 15 before direct flow decrees for irrigation come on. Since Dec 21, 2003, much recharge has been occurring in WD 64. Today the Peterson is iced out so no recharge in that ditch. Jim Hall mentioned that about 600 wells have been tagged to not pump. 3 injunctions are before the Court with another approx. 40 to be filed shortly to prevent continued well pumping for wells that have not filed SWSPs and/or Water Court Aug Plan Applications. Joe Frank, Assistant Manager at LSPWCD, gave an update on Lower's accounting activities and the desire of Lower to assist the new augmentation groups with their well augmentation accountings. The remaining 9 wells at Tamarack will be turned on for recharge within the next week after electrical meters are read by HEA. One well has been on continuously pumping for the minnow pond/stream system with part of the well flow returning to maintain slough water levels. The same groups that leased Tamarack accretion credits in 2003 desire to do so again in 2004. Lease Agreements between SPLRG and these groups were discussed and signed agreements will be forthcoming. Steve Sims and Grady McNeill discussed the ongoing efforts to finalize the Tamarack Recharge Decree with objectors. The CWCB to SPLRG grant for $150K for exploring public /private partnerships was discussed. Potential projects were identified. Jon A. over the summer will work on feasibility scoping with CWCB. An issue for future discussion/resolution is the public entity representing the State in developing recharge project partnerships for the 3 -State ESA program. John Van Sciver informed SPLRG that he would be retiring on March 31 from the CWCB. John Van Sciver has been of the greatest assistance in SPLRG efforts and acquiring grants that allowed SPLRG to accomplish many things over the past 10 years. We will all miss John very much and wish him the best in his well - deserved retirement. Alan Berryman gave an update on the 3- States Cooperative ESA program. An extension has been signed for negotiations on a Program to continue until July 2005. Draft EIS on the Program will be out in the next few weeks. The NAS study is expected in late March 2004. Considerable discussions are ongoing and things are looking up that there may actually be a program among the states and federal government. Having a facilitator conduct the meetings has helped and Steve Sims as a Colorado negotiator has provided the boost in energy needed to get things done. Next SPLRG meeting will be Thursday, March 25, 2004 at Lower's office starting at 9:00 AM. Respectfully Submitted; Jon Altenhofen