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<br />Ul;I-21-Sb FRI 14:45 <br />'i <br /> <br />,) 00154~ <br /> <br />.4t:Dun4 IlEM 2/0 <br />A/vY~!.5ER 7, fCl95 <br />&MlvT /JRc/J~-S1L (;;;9 i) <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />WATER RESOURCE INVESTIGATIONS IN THE LOWER SOUTH PLATTE RrvER <br /> <br />Over the past five years, the lower re~h of the South Platte River in Colorado tbat is <br />affected by the South Platte River Compact (fonner Water Di~trict 64) ifinaea~ingly being <br />focused upon in tenns of water management and development. Preservation and wise ~;e of <br />Colorado's South Plane River Compact entitlement i~ vital to a large portion of the state"s <br />population that depend on the South Platte River for agricultural, muni<..ipal, and oth\:T purposes <br />This grant proposal has been developed 10 evaluate Colorado's compact entitlement on the South <br />Platte River and to examine the possible projects and strategies that will se<..1lre those re~oun;es <br />for Colorado's needs into the future, <br /> <br />This proposal outlines a cooperative effort involving watc1' interests in the South Platte <br />River in conjunction with divisions of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Th~ wa,~r <br />user entities participating include Groundwater Appropriators of the South Platte (GASP), the <br />Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District (LSPWCD), the Northern Colorado Water <br />Conservancy District (NCWCD), the ColoTIldo Division of Wildlife (DOW), and lhe Platle Rivcr <br />Project (PRP). These entities represent numerous water users in fonner Water Dh1tkt 64 as wdl <br />as upstream areas of the South Platte basin. The participants will work closely wi!h the Division <br />of Water Resources (DWRJ and the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) in pl,lnl1ing <br />and cartying out the investigation. Because of the wide range of interests involved in the <br />investigation, the investigation is ellvbioned to be funded as a grant at a level of $75,000. A <br />consultant will be selected to carry out the aClivities outlined in the scope of work, and will work <br />closely with the participants as the invc.'itigation progresses. The purpose of the investigation i~ lO <br />identify and evaluate potential water reSOUTce management and dcvelopment oppOrtllnilj~s in <br />former Water District 64 that can secure Colorado's water resources under the, compact and meet <br />Colorado's water needs. .The benefits of this investigation will potentially re3l:h aU water users in <br />the South Platte basin since a variety of projCl:ts that would meet both upstream and downstream <br />needs will be evaluated and because prolcction of Colorado's entitlement is vital to all S,1ulh <br />Platte water users. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />The lower reach ofthe South Platte River in Colorado (former Water Distril:t 64) is the <br />only section of the river that is subjcct to the provisions contained in !he South Platt.= River <br />C.ompact which define the use of water for the States of Colorado and Nebraska. Water rights in <br />former water disu'ict 64 are subject to the demands of Nebraska during lhe April I through <br />October 15 period at times when the amount of flow al [he state line drops below 120 efs. At <br />such times Colorado rights in fonner Water District 64 which are junior 1:0 a priority of June 14. <br />1897 are curtailed. When flows during this pcriod are above 120 cfs and for tne remainder of [he <br />