Animas-La Plata Project Water Supply Demand Study

Section 3 Animas - La Plata Water Supply and Demand Study
■ Town of Ignacio, Colorado
3.3 Survey Questionnaire
In coordination with CWCB, Brown and Caldwell developed questions for interviewing the selected water
providers.. The questionnaire included the following.
• What is the range in quantity the water provider would be interested in purchasing in AF per year?
• Water provider's willingness to take the State's Chair on the Association Board?
• The level of interest and the provider's ability to participate in the operation of the Association?
• The range of cost per AF of the provider would be willing to pay?
• When the water supplier would want to begin receiving its water?
• Whether the water provider would consider leasing water from the local tribes?
• From whom the water providers would prefer to buy water if the supplier were in the market?
• Whether the water provider would approve of letting the State's ALP allocation revert to the tribes and
then purchase or lease this water from the tribes in the future?
• What are the major obstacles to your organization purchasing ALP Water?
• What would be necessary to eliminate the obstacles to allow you to purchase this water?
Brown and Caldwell modified these questions for each of the water providers based on their future estimated
demand and proximity to Lake Nighthorse. A copy of the general questionnaire can be found in Appendix
C.
3.3.1 Description of Financing Options
During the telephone interview, Brown and Caldwell also provided the potential buyers with information on
CWCB's grant and loan programs for financing the provider's possible acquisition of the A -LP Project water.
3.4 Summary of Interviews and Demand Study
Table 3 -4 summarizes results of the interviews with the eight water providers identified as potential
purchasers for A -LP Project water. Full interview results can be found in Appendix D.
Future 2030 population projections for Archuleta and La Plata counties anticipate a total population of about
110,000 people. Demand projections for that point in time are variable and dependent on how well water
conservation methods are implemented. Data from SWSI indicates there is an approximately 1,400 AF gap
in M&I demand versus supply for Archuleta and La Plata Counties. SWSI also indicates that the supply is
available, but transporting water to the demand centers is the challenge.
3.4.1.1 La Plata West Water Authority
The La Plata West Water Authority ( LPWWA) is a newly created water authority covering the western
portion of La Plata County. LPWWA currently has no customers, but has led the effort in the construction
of the Lake Nighthorse water intake, in cooperation with the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Tribes.
LPWWA submitted a letter dated April 23, 2009 to the Colorado Department of Natural Resources
expressing interest in purchasing A -LP Project water. The letter indicates that anticipated demand will exceed
the 700 AF of supply of A -LP Project that LPWWA presently has the option to exercise.
P:1Data1GEN\CWCBN38372 - Animas -La Plata Demand Study lDeliverableslReportslFinaMLP Cost Demand Study Final Report.docx