Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District 2000 Annual Report

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PROJECT WATER ALLOCATION POLICY IN REVIEW The Board of Directors accepts applications from municipal and agricultural water users each spring, and begins the allocation process of the available water from the Fryingpan- Arkansas Project. The amount of water available for allocation each year is determined by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation based on estimates of spring runoff available for diversion in the Project collection system. An estimate of allocable Fry -Ark diversions is provided to the District by May 1 st of each year, and allocations are finalized by the Board at their May meeting. Municipal and agricultural water users within the boundaries of the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District are eligible to receive an allocation of water from the Fry -Ark Project. Fry -Ark Project Water provides a supplemental source of water for irrigation and domestic use. The District's Allocation Principles allow for domestic use of Project Water to take priority over irrigation usage, with 51 percent of the available Project Water reserved for that purpose, and 49 percent for irrigation purposes. Since the Project started delivering water, the demand for Project Water by municipal water users has not required the full 51 percent allocation, so agricultural water users have been allocated more than the 49 percent share. Water for farmers residing in the District is allocated on an acre -foot per acre basis after the municipal water requests are met. The 2000 Project Water rate was $7.00 per acre -foot, and was charged to agricultural and municipal water users alike. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, in consultation with the District, sets the rate for Fry -Ark Project Water. The rate for Project Water is reviewed by Reclamation every four years, and is subject to change based on a formal Repayment Analysis and Ability to Pay Study as conducted by Reclamation. All of the revenue generated from the sale of Project Water goes to Reclamation to pay for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the Project facilities. Over the last decade the District has allocated an average of 72,992 acre -feet of Project Water each year. In 2000 the District allocated 156,045 acre -feet of water. The District has a formal application process for those interested in purchasing Project Water. Each application is reviewed by the Allocation Committee based on the District's Allocation Principles and Allocation Policy. Copies of these documents are available from the District staff and would be useful for anyone interested in purchasing Fry -Ark Project Water. 10