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<br />SEWCD Planning Group Formed: A Regional Water Resources Planning Group has been formed by <br />the District. There are two groups, a policy group consisting of the head of each of each of the <br />participating entities and a technical group. The technical group will begin work on the following: (1) a <br />hydrologic model for the entire Arkansas River basin; (2) river management mechanisms that include <br />river operational systems and physical river management structures; and (3) communication <br />improvements for everyone that is involved on the river. <br /> <br />Arkansas Valley Conduit: U.S. Sen. Allard will reintroduce legislation to secure authorization for <br />federal funding for this project by Corps in the new Congress. The SECWCD, which is providing lead <br />coordination services to the entities that will ultimately benefit from the project, is conducting a survey of <br />those entities to refine flow estimates for final pipeline sizing and is also analyzing water treatment <br />options to resolve questions about whether the conduit should transport treated or raw water, <br />Reclamation, the agency originally authorized to construct the pipeline, has completed its own evaluation <br />of the project and will be submitting those findings directly to Congress. <br /> <br />Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District Board: The District has announced the <br />reappointment of board members and the election of a new Chairman, John Singletary, of Pueblo County. <br />Mr. Singletary replaces Leroy Mauch, the District's first Chairman, who will continue to serve as a board <br />member from Prowers County. <br /> <br />The election of Singletary came as a surprise after Mauch announced he would step down as chairman of <br />LA VWCD board. Mauch was a driving force in establishing the LA VWCD. <br /> <br />The counties included in the District are Pueblo, Otero, Crowley, Bent and Prowers. <br /> <br />LA VWCD Water Resource Center: The Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District has <br />opened a water resource center in their offices in Rocky Ford. The official opening dedication was held on <br />Dec. 8. The resource center will be available to anyone who would like to gather information concerning <br />water issues in the valley. The small office that houses the resource center is connected to the Internet via <br />computer and is lined with pamphlets and literature covering many subjects; tamarisk issues, conservation <br />issues and renewable energy. The District is also putting together a small library of reference books and <br />pamphlets that can be used at the office. Reference material is available covering ditches and reservoirs in <br />the Arkansas River basin, the "Conduit Project," and water conservation easements. <br /> <br />Minnequa Lake Project Details Discussed: CF&I, now owned by Rocky Mountain Steel of Oregon, has <br />expressed its desire to sell Minnequa Lake and the associated water rights near Pueblo. The City of <br />Pueblo has a first right of refusal on the property. Therefore, the city is seeking funding for the project <br />from the LA VWCD and other entities. <br /> <br />The LA VWCD has been specifically asked to provide $600,000 over three-years to buy irrigation water <br />rights in the CF&I reservoir system, which also includes the Saint Charles Reservoirs Numbers I and 2 <br />located on Salt Creek. <br /> <br />The Minnequa Lake project, formally termed The Minnequa Lake Park & Open Space Project, would <br />include the acquisition of the 243-acre lake property and the associated water rights. The overall park will <br />include a total of320 acres, including 80 acres already owned by the city of Pueblo. <br /> <br />The City of Pueblo recently received a $2.3 million grant from GOCo for the Minnequa Lake project. <br /> <br />Colorado Springs Pipe Plan Concerns Lower Ark Board: On Jan. 12 Jay Winner, manager ofthe <br />LA VWCD told his Board members that selenium is going to become a huge issue in the valley because of <br />Colorado Springs' plans to divert more water from the Arkansas River at Pueblo Dam and that the <br />problem likely will grow worse as Colorado Springs continues to exchange water upstream. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />18 <br />