BOARD02463

• Board Meeting Date: 3/22/2005
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Staff will be closely monitoring progress and costs on these projects and will provide the Board with .
periodic updates in the Director's Report. At Board members request more detailed information can be
presented under the regular agenda.

2005 Arkansas River Basin Forum: This year's program is entitled "Cool, Clear Water." The forum
will be held on April 7 and 8 in Trinidad For more information visit httTJ://arbwf.info/default.htm.

Study Shows Water Transfers Costly To Rural Economy of Republican: According to a study
recently completed by Colorado State University, at the request of the new Republican River Water
Conservation Board, water transfers and tht:: associated dry-up of irrigated farmland would cost thc
economy more than $500 per acre per year, not counting the loss of local tax revenue when the land is
converted from irrigated agriculture to dryland or rangeland.

The Board undertook the study because a U.S. Supreme Court master ruled in 2001 that the Republican
River Compact includes groundwater to the extent that its use depletes streamflows in the Republican
River Basin. Colorado has exceeded its compact allocation of water by several thousand-acre feet and the
consumptive use of water for agriculture must be reduced. Therefore, the new Republican River
Conservation Board is weighing alternatives to reduce consurnptive use, including an alternative to
remove 20,000 acres of farmland from irrigated production.

The study was published in the Colorado Water newsletter and can be read online at:
hrt1J://cwrri.colostate.edu/pubs/newsletter/2005/FEbr''102005COW ater.pdf.

Opponents of High Plains Plan Submit Filings: Attorneys for the Southeastern Colorado Water
Conservancy District (SEWCD) and other objectors to High Plains A&M's change of use application
have filed their answer brief with the Colorado Supreme Court. .

The objectors to High Plains argue for upholding Pueblo District Court Judge Dennis Maes' summary
dismissal of High Plains' application on July 2,2004. Maes said High Plains' plan violates the state's
anti-speculation doctrine of water law.

Answer briefs also were filed by the state of Colorado, Lower Arkansas Valley Conservancy District and
Bill Paddock on behalf of his clients, which include the Pueblo Board of Water Works.

Aurora has filed a brief in support of High Plains.

Arguments in the case probably won't begin until June, and possibly could begin as late as September.

Pueblo Water Board Suggests Conduit Partnership: The Pueblo Board of Water Works has agreed to
study the costs involved in extending a large water main east from the Pueblo Memorial Airport as part of
the Arkansas River Conduit project. To date, Pueblo has not been a direct participant in the project.

The SEWCD is developing the plans for the $252 million conduit and seeking federal funds to build the
pipeline. It is envisioned as a way to deliver up to 21 million gallons per day to water users from St.
Charles Mesa to Lamar. The conduit was part of the 1962 Fryingpan-Arkansas Project legislation, but was
never built.

Cities, Ditch Reservoir Reach Water Storage Agreement: Cities that agreed to curtail water exchanges
to provide minimum flows for a Pueblo kayak course will now lease space in a downstream ditch
reservoir. Aurora has signed a five-year lease with the Holbrook Canal to store water released from
Pueblo Dam to recover water from foregone exchanges under an intergovernmental agreement. The rGA
says Aurora and Colorado Springs will curtail exchanges to meet minimum flows through Pueblo. .

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