Rio Grande - Haywood Ranch Conservation Easement_WaterActivitySummary

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consumptive needs process conducted by the Rio Grande Basin Round Table, including its wetlands and riparian zone wildlife habitat. In addition, it is a working ranch with consumptive use of senior water rights. Both of these needs are served and sustained by conserving the land and water as proposed. The application does an excellent and thorough job of articulating how the project meets numerous SWSI objectives. Tier 2: Facilitating Water Activity Implementation: Without WSRA funding,this project could be pushed back for a year or more while other sources of funding are secured, during which time the price of land conservation could rise and with stalled momentum,the landowner might lose interest. In addition,historic water use patterns,riparian wetlands,water quality, scenic landscapes,wildlife corridors and habitat are all threatened by accelerating development,the demands for augmentation water for wells, and increased demands on the river. The requested WSRA funds will be matched with funds of$300,000 from NAWCA(application submitted July 2012)and a contribution of approximately 35%of the conservation easement value from the landowners, totaling approximately$700,000 in match for this project. (Note that the actual amount of the landowner donation is determined by the final appraisal.) Tier 3: The Water Activity Addresses Issues of Statewide Value and Maximizes Benefits: The 400-acre project parcel targeted for protection is within the Rio Grande river's floodplain and includes approximately 2/10ths of a mile of the river and over 160 acres of important wetlands along with a substantial portion of the#1 senior water right on the Rio Grande that sustains them. Riparian areas and wetlands along the river corridor provide highly important wildlife habitat for all of the area's wildlife,and for several endangered species. By enacting the easement the project ensures that agriculture and open space are sustained. Preserving historical use patterns is also important to the ongoing administration of the Rio Grande Compact. Finally the project compliments past support from a$1.5 million WSRA grant in 2008 and another$70,000 grant in 2011. These funds matched$7.4 million from a Great Outdoors Colorado(GOCO)Legacy Grant award and numerous other private and public funding sources to achieve six successful conservation easements. Discussion: The Rio Grande Initiative's direct protection of lands within the floodplain and senior surface water rights addresses both consumptive and non-consumptive needs, and benefits multiple entities and interests in the Rio Grande. The project will help sustain agricultural productivity in the basin. It will also preserve lands within the floodplain that directly contribute to healthy wildlife populations and flood mitigation. Preserving floodplains in an undeveloped state is a sound strategy for avoiding property damage and loss of life from large flood events. This project will preserve open space in the floodplain upstream of the Town of Monte Vista. Floodplains are attractive to developers because of the amenities and unique natural features they offer. Alternatively, floodplain preservation continues to provide wildlife habitat, flood attenuation,water quality benefits, ground water storage, and agricultural resources. Issues/Additional Needs: No issues or additional needs remain. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of up to$400,000 from the Statewide Account and$25,000 from the Rio Grande Basin Account to partially fund the Rio Grande Initiative: Haywood Ranch Conservation Easement. All products, data and information developed as a result of this grant must be provided to the CWCB in hard copy and electronic format as part of the project documentation. This information will in turn be made widely available to Basin Roundtables and the general public and will help promote the development of a common technical platform. In accordance with the revised WSRA Criteria and Guidelines, staff would like to highlight additional reporting and final deliverable requirements. The specific requirements are provided below. Reporting and Final Deliverable: The applicant shall provide the CWCB a progress report every 6 months, beginning from the date of the executed contract. The progress report shall describe the completion or partial completion of the tasks identified in the scope of work including a description of any major issues that have occurred and any corrective action taken to address these issues. At completion of the project,the applicant shall provide the - 2 -