Conservancy Board, Aurora Appear Near Fry-Ark Agreement: Pueblo Chieftain

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Conservancy board, Aurora appear near Fry -Ark agreement The Pueblo Chieftain Online Select file then print to print this article. Publish Date Friday September 21, 2001 http://www.chieftain.com/print.php3?story--3 Conservancy board, Aurora appear near Fry -Ark agreement By MARY JEAN PORTER The Pueblo Chieftain The Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District and the City of Aurora appear to be close to an agreement concerning Aurora's use of Fryingpan - Arkansas Project facilities. A draft intergovernmental agreement was presented at the Thursday meeting of the conservancy district board of directors, and it reflects the work of a half -dozen negotiating sessions and conversations since the board's special meeting Aug. 30, said Steve Arveschoug, district manager. The agreement would allow Aurora to continue its "if and when" water storage in the Fry -Ark Project, but that storage - between 5,000 and 10,000 acre -feet when available- would remain subordinate to the needs of all district entities. And Aurora's water would be the first to spill from project reservoirs. Aurora's "if and when" storage in the project would be limited to its existing water rights, including those now being negotiated in the proposed sale of Rocky Ford Ditch water. It could not store water it gains through any future transfer of water rights originating in the Arkansas River basin. Aurora's "if and when" storage contract would be for 25 years. The draft calls for Aurora to pay the district $2.25 million - $1 million in a lump sum, and the remainder in annual payments of $50,000 each for 25 years. Aurora would pay 10 percent of the legislative and lobbying costs, and it would pay an extra $10 per acre -foot for all water in "if and when" storage. Aurora also would pay a winter water spill credit surcharge of $1 to $2 per acre -foot. There are several options for how this money might be used by the conservancy district, including dedicating the $1 million payment to development of the Arkansas Valley pipeline. "This would be earmarked for the area of the district most impacted by the water transfers," Arveschoug said. The annual payments of $50,000 each could be applied to repayment of the Bureau of Reclamation for the Fry -Ark Project. The whole project cost $400 million, and the conservancy district has to repay $130 million. Under the draft agreement, Aurora would not participate in the enlargement of Pueblo and Turquoise reservoirs. "Let's deal with the status quo," said Arveschoug. "The project can meet Aurora's (storage) needs as it has for the past 15 years, and the enlargement can go forward." A stipulation in the Rocky Ford Ditch transfer case by Dec. 15 and a stipulation in the Rocky Ford exchange case by Feb. 15 are part of the proposed agreement. 1 of 2 9/25/012:39 PM