District, Aurora Very Close: Tribune-Democrat

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Friday , September 21, 2001: • Some issues resolved. From page 1 studies to be authorized by H.R. 1714, along with a full assessment Of storage space needs for use with- in the Southeastern District,. South- . eastern does not agree to Aurora's participation in the enlargements," Arveschoug quoted from the drafts presented. Some of the points previously contested. that have now been resolved are: • Aurora can continue having "If, and When" storage in Pueblo Reservoir by using storage in excess of what the ,Fry -Ark project needs. Aurora would still be the first to spill and be subordinate to °all district needs. This storage is. limited to. between 5,000 and 10,000 acre feet when available on an If and When renewable contract of 25 years based on the Bureau of Reclamation's policy. • Aurora's use of excess capacity in the Fry -Ark Project would be limited to existing rights, including the Rocky Ford Ditch water rights. . "Aurora shall not use Fry -Ark Pro - ject facilities in connection with any further transfers of water rights that originate in the Arkansas River Basin," the agreement (though not finalized) stipulated. • Aurora would pay the district " $2.25 million for use of the project space. An up -front payment of $1 million would be due when the long -term contract is executed, and the remaining $1.25 million would be payable in sums of $50,000 a year over 25; years, plus 10 percent of, legislative` costs. Aurora -would also have to. pay 'an extra $10 an acre foot. over what Fry -Ark con- stituents- pay to fund Safety of " I Dams" and Operations and Mainte- pance projects. Aurora would also pay a Winter Water Spill Credit fee. Arveschoug outlined for the board potential uses of this $25 Million. His recommendation, how - ever, is that the up -front $1.million be dedicated to the Arkansas Valley Pipeline project, "My recommendation is that (the $1 million) be earmarked for the area of the district most impact - ed by Aurora's transfer of water (out of the basin)," Arveschoug said. The district manager said the annual $50,000 payments could go to accelerate, the repayment of the Fry -Ark project to the Bureau of Reclamation. The district's finan- cial obligation to BOR was $130 million originally, but has been paid to to $110 million, payable by 2027. The district will have the opportunity to manage water amounts above Aurora's annual Arkansas Basin component require- ments. That comes with the.stipula- tions that Aurora determine what is . surplus, Colorado Canal water may be used to revegetate lands in. Crowley County before the dis- trict's use, and future agreements Aurora and Otero County come up with preceded district's use of that excess water. Aurora is also asked to use 750 acre -feet of water each year for five years. • The district is also calling for several stipulations on existing water court cases and proposed decrees. What hasn't been resolved are the final wording of the intergov- ernmental agreement. There has also been no final resolution on the issues between Otero County and Aurora, though Arveschoug said five of Otero's six conditions have been_ met. SECWCD will finalize its ver- sion of the IGA on Oct. 4 in a spe- cial district meeting so Aurora City Council can act either Oct. 8 or. Oct.'22 in its council meeting.