Potential Projects - MOA Concerning the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund

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Page 2 of 4 June 28,2011 Potential Projects-MOA Concernine the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund b.) Related efficiency improvements(e.g.,installation of modern headgates with increased measurement accuracy and remote controls where technically feasible)in Lower Gunnison Basin esp. in seleniferous areas that are prone to losses;this would be a multiyear effort with an estimated expenditure of$1-2 MM/year c.) Additional water efficiency and management items described in the SMP Draft Action Plan(additional details can be found in the June 2011 Draft SMP Program Formulation Document(PFD)e.g.,selenium monitoring,research and other operational needs);this would be a multiyear effort with an estimated expenditure of$1-2 MM/year. 2.) Support Selenium Management Program activities specific to the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association(UVWUA)system(pursuant to environmental compliance (e., Gunnison Basin Programmatic Biological Opinion;PBO), water conservation activities,consumptive use and quality of water)and water conservation activities, including,but not limited to: a.) Scope and implement UVWUA system-specific optimization study(i.e.,similar to the Grand Valley Water Management Study performed by the UCRRIP)to result in plans and specifications for system-wide improvements;this would be a 1-3 year effort including data collection and analysis with an estimated expenditure of$0.25-0.5 MM/year. b.) Design and installation of a system-wide controls,check structures and automation to reduce deep percolation and achieve water conservation goals and objectives determined from(a.)this is anticipated to be a multiyear effort including data collection and analysis with an estimated expenditure of$0.5-0.75 MM/year. c.) Support planning and implementation efforts including on-farm system delivery improvement to reduce deep percolation and for water conservation goals and objectives; this could include better integration between the off-farm UVWUA delivery system and on-farm application such as widespread implementation of pressurized sprinkler systems. Approaches could include the deployment of system irrigation management specialists to aid producers complete with additional incentives to overcome existing obstacles to acceptance,behavior change and implementation of more efficient practices;this is anticipated to be a multiyear effort including data collection and analysis with an estimated expenditure of$60,000-100,000/year. 3.) Support activities related to Paonia Reservoir and North Fork WCD system (pursuant to environmental compliance (Le., Gunnison Basin Programmatic Biological Opinion;PBO), water conservation activities,consumptive use,quality of water and water conservation activities, including,but not limited to: a.) Support the design and implementation of a low level outlet with sediment control capability to evacuate and/or manage sediment input/thru-put from Muddy Creek and the Paonia Reservoir basin to the North Fork River. Studies are on-going and indicate that this could be a feasible yet significantly expensive project(>$10MM); b.) Support planning efforts including on-farm system delivery improvement to reduce deep percolation and water conservation esp.in seleniferous areas(e.g.,Cottonwood Creek sub basin);this is to be in conjunction with or in place of item#1.