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. ,.-- ,..... ,''', <'\ j.\JJ:) Colorado Water Conservation Board Ft. Lyon Canal Company Water Transfer Study Plan of Study/Request for Proposal INTRODUCTION This Plan of Study/Request for Proposals (POS/RFP) is to request proposals from selected qualified consultants to "undertake an analysis of the alternative approaches to and the results of the transfer of agricultural water supplies from the Ft. Lyon Canal Company to alternative uses" (SB92-87). The purpose of the study is neither to facilitate water transfers from the Ft. Lyon Canal Company or any other water user in the Arkansas River Valley, nor to evaluate or judge whether agricultural water uses are intrinsically better or more valuable than municipal or industrial uses. Rather it is to describe and evaluate potential alternatives to the transfer of water and the significant reduction or termination of agriculture under the Ft. Lyon Canal Company, assuming that valley agricultural water will continue to be viewed a source of supply to meet existing or new demands. It is further assumed that some portion of the Ft. Lyon shareholders may be willing to sell water under certain conditions to meet those demands. Indirectly the development and evaluation of alternatives may be applied to other potential water transfers in the Arkansas River Valley, and other agricultural areas of the state. Funding for the study will be provided by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB). The study will be administered and managed by CWCB staff. The Lower Arkansas River Commission, the Ft. Lyon Canal Company and Task Force II have been asked to cooperate with the Board in providing input and guidance to this study. The consultant will be required to coordinate through the CWCB staff with ongoing studies being conducted by Task Force II and the Colorado Division of Wildlife that address related issues in the Arkansas River Valley. The General Assembly has authorized $100,000 for performing the study and the CWCB anticipates expending no more than $95,000 under the contract negotiated pursuant to this POS/RFP to conduct the study described herein. BACKGROUND During the last ten years a number of major water transfers have taken place or have been attempted in the Arkansas River Valley. There have been transfers from agricultural ..