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MEMORANDUM <br /> TO: South Platte Lower River Group(SPLRG)Participants <br /> FROM: Jon Altenhofen <br /> DATE: December 3, 1998 <br /> REF:Discussion materials for December 9, 1998 meeting <br /> Enclosed with this cover memorandum are the following: <br /> 1. SPLRG Objectives <br /> 2. SPLRG Project Matrix from May 1996 <br /> 3. Draft Agreement for Recharge Project at Julesburg Wellfleld (Town of Julesburg and the <br /> Julesburg Irrigation District have reviewed and approved) <br /> 4. SPLRG Agenda for December 9, 1998 meeting <br /> 5. SPLRG Minutes for October 22, 1998 meeting <br /> DISCUSSION AND SCREENING OF FUTURE SPLRG PROJECTS <br /> SPLRG projects to date have focused on accomplishing one or more of the SPLRG objectives on <br /> the attached list. For example,the managed groundwater recharge project at the CDOW <br /> Tamarack State Wildlife Area has enhanced existing well augmentation, addressed minnow <br /> species of concern, and started development of the infrastructure for the Tamarack Plan. <br /> Future SPLRG projects should continue meeting these objectives while guided by the following <br /> considerations or criteria: <br /> r — (A)Time line for development is within the next 3 years because the Recovery Program should <br /> r be operating in 2002. <br /> (B)Affordability. For comparison,recharge projects supplied by gravity from ditches have <br /> annualized costs of about$5 per ac-ft. Recharge projects supplied by wells have <br /> annualized costs of about$20 to$30 per ac-ft. <br /> (C)Augmentation is first priority for ditch systems. SPLRG's position has always been that <br /> recharge projects under ditch systems will first be used to maintain and enhance the <br /> augmentation of existing wells of the shareholders with any remaining then maybe <br /> available for the Tamarack Plan. <br /> (D)Projects closer to the Colorado-Nebraska state line lessen in-state administration concerns <br /> and better address Compact issues. <br /> The projects listed on the May 1996 Project Matrix can be grouped in three categories; <br /> groundwater recharge, surface reservoirs,and demand management. Since 1996, SPLRG and its <br /> participants have studied and/or are developing many of these projects. Projects on this list that <br /> have had less focus to date from SPLRG should be pursued such as GASP's Sustainment Project <br /> and other similar recharge projects not on the list such as the Fender Recharge Project and the <br /> South Reservation Recharge Project. SPLRG should consider assisting GASP where appropriate <br /> and requested in GASP's investigations for their new reservoir applications in the lower river. <br /> Demand management such as the increase use of center pivots on existing irrigated acreage <br /> under the South Reservation, Peterson,and Settlers ditches could lessen the amount of required <br /> supplies from the river,wells,and reservoirs thereby allowing more flexibility in river <br /> management and Compact operations. <br />