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<br />.' <br /> <br />Committee Convened and Subcommittees Formed <br /> <br />The ARCC met eleven times over a twelve month period from September, 1994, to <br />September, 1995. At the first meeting on September 22, 1994, in La Junta, Colorado, <br />Governor Romer stressed the importance of the committees responsibilities to the future of <br />the Arkansas River basin. <br /> <br />Initial meetings of the committee were used to brief members on the Slatus of the <br />Kansas v. Colorado lawsuit, discuss potential organizational structure, and develop an overall <br />work plan. Briefings were provided on the 1980 John Martin Reservoir Operating Plan and <br />the Winter Water Storage Program. The Committee organized itself into three working <br />subcommittees: the augmentation water subcommittee, the water acquisition subcommittee <br />and, the recreation water subcommittee. The augmentation subcommittee met numerous <br />times to review and provide input and information on the 1996 Use Rules. <br /> <br />Recommendations of the Committee <br /> <br />Each of the three subcommittees provided recommendations the full committee for <br />consideration. The ARCC positions regarding actions to comply with the Arkansas River <br />Compact are: <br /> <br />. Given the availability of water for purchase and/or short term lease, the future <br />interests of the region and state would best be met by repaying Kansas with <br />water deliveries. <br /> <br />. State officials should look to existing augmentation groups, and any new <br />entities created by valley water users, to meet future well augmentation <br />requirements that address the problems of depletions to usable state~e flows <br />and prevent injury to senior Colorado surface rights. <br /> <br />. The ability to pay will be determined by the well augmentation groups and <br />their members and a reconunendation in this area is unnecessary. <br /> <br />. With respect to the purchase of water rights to be used for augmentation: <br /> <br />1. Do not purchase entire basin augmentation needs from a single <br />geographic region to minimize impacts on: <br /> <br />a) revegetation of the area, <br />b) county tax base, and <br />c) agricultural dependent conununities. <br /> <br />21 <br />