Water News: Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District Volume 1 Issue 12

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Aurora Concept Paper is Put on Hold Don't worry, the District has not made any deals with the City of Aurora regarding the Rocky Ford Ditch water rights and new storage projects. District Board members and the PSOP Implementation Committee did discuss ideas on how Aurora's involvement in the proposed enlargement of Pueblo Reservoir could benefit the water users in the District, and there was even a concept discussed that would have had the District purchase the Rocky Ford Ditch water rights and then lease a portion of that water to Aurora. But, those ideas, which may have some merit in the future, have been put on hold. After hearing about these concepts from District staff and officials from the City of Aurora, the District Board and the PSOP Implementation Committee put the ideas on hold. They believed that it is more important for the District, through its' Water Activity Enterprise, to stay focused on meeting the needs of water users in the District through the implementation of the Preferred Storage Options Plan. The ideas may again be discussed if water users in the District decide not to develop the full 75,000 acre -feet of additional space at Pueblo Reservoir, and if community leaders in the Arkansas Valley want to consider the idea of having the District buy water rights for use in the District or lease out of the District. While these ideas would involve the use of newly developed storage space at Pueblo Reservoir, the District Board of Directors has made it clear that they do not support Aurora's use of existing Fry - Ark Project storage space to move water out of the basin. Although Aurora pays for the use of Project storage and their storage is subject to spill first, the District believes that Reclamation should not contract with the City of Aurora because they are not a taxpaying entity in the District and the Fry -Ark Project was intended to benefit individuals within the nine- RECLAMATION REFORM ACT 2001 REPORTING GUIDELINES In 1982 United States Congress passed, "Reclamation Reform Act (RRA) 1982." This Act covers all reclamation Projects in seventeen western states. The members of the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy Board of Directors amended our repayment contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in 1984 to bring our District into compliance with the new Act. Since 1984 the District staff has worked with officials from the Bureau of Reclamation, individual landholders, and officials from the various ditch companies to obtain the necessary information and complete the required forms. As required by federal law, the completed forms are retained in the District office. 2 county service area of the District. The District will have this debate with the Bureau of Reclamation over the next several months, but the outcome is uncertain. In 1986 the District took the same position, but Reclamation, owner of the Project, disagreed and executed a contract with Aurora for a temporary storage at Pueblo Reservoir. So, this discussion of what to do with Aurora has two issues - 1) should Aurora participate in the development of new storage space under the PSOP, and 2) should Aurora be allowed to use existing Fry -Ark Project storage? There may be a third issue — should the District get in the business of buying water rights for use in the District and operate a water bank? If you have any ideas on these issues give us a call. We need your input. Written by: Steve Arveschoug, General Manager, SECWCD S dEppptMENT OF iNE lN,tR�o9 In 2001 e a c h -' landholder will be required to complete RRA verification form (FORM 7 -21 VERIFY 2001). If irrigable landholdings, owned or leased, exceed 240 acres, landholders must complete the RRA verification form in order for your landholdings to receive Project Water, Winter Water, or other water that has benefited from Project Storage. See RRA Reporting (Continued on page 3)