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<br />....r' ....." <br /> <br />RECEIVED <br /> <br />JAN 5 - 1995 CONCEPT PAPER <br />Colorado <br />Canse ,Water <br />t>aConBo,t(IilKANSAS RIVER BASIN WATER MANAGEMENT PROJECT <br /> <br />The State Engineer will be required to promulgate rules and regulations effective in 1996 that will <br />respond to the expected decision by the U,S, Supreme Court confirming the Special Master's <br />recommendations that post-compact well pumping has and will continue to deplete the useable <br />state line flows, This rule would have to prohibit a post-compact well from pumping unless the <br />well is in an approved plan whereby depletions to the use able stateline flows are replaced in a <br />manner acceptable to the U,S, Supreme Court or a court appointed master. <br /> <br />Post-compact well owners or well associations could individually or as a larger organization <br />acquire various sources of water for augmentation of stateline flows, It is suggested that a single <br />umbrella organization may be able to acquire and manage various water resources more <br />efficiently and effectively than multiple organizations, <br /> <br />This umbrella organization would be established by statute or other legally appropriate means <br />and would be called the "Arkansas River Basin Water Management Projecr (ARBWMP). <br /> <br />The ARBWMP would have the legal authority to buy, sell, lease, or otherwise acquire water on <br />behalf of its members, It would be under the control of a Board of Directors representing its <br />various members. It would have staff that would manage land and water resources that it owns. <br />The staff may have to implement dry up and revegetation requirements if irrigated land is <br />acquired, The staff would manage the water resources acquired on behalf of its members to <br />provide augmentation water for replacement of depletions to the Arkansas River within the state <br />as well as at the stateline, <br /> <br />The ARBWMP would coordinate with the Division of Wildlife and Division of Parks and Outdoor <br />Recreation on water management opportunities with respect to water acquired for a state park <br />or parks, <br /> <br />The ARBWMP would coordinate with the State Engineer for approval of annual substitute water <br />supply plans, It would also provide reports to the State Engineer and the master appointed by <br />the U,S, Supreme Court on its compliance on behalf of its members with orders of the court. <br /> <br />The ARBWMP would establish and collect fees annually from its members to provide for the costs <br />related to acquiring and managing its land and water resources, These fees would cover lease <br />and loan authorization costs for water resources acquired. The fees also would provide for <br />personnel, legal and engineering costs as well as other miscellaneous costs, <br /> <br />The fee structure could be based upon a number of various scenarios, but for the purposes of <br />this proposal it is recommended that it be based on the best data available which should be the <br />annual volume of water pumped by post-compact wells, This appears to be the most equitable <br />since those who pump more would pay more, <br /> <br />The ARBWMP would also approach the Legislature on behalf of the entire basin and seek <br />assistance in acquiring water resources if the costs exceed the reasonable ability to pay, <br />