Colorado Water PlanMesa County Town Hall

Public MeetingApril 3, 2014

AgendaMesa County WaterBackground

Colorado Basin RoundtableColorado Water PlanBasin Implementation Plan (BIP)

BIP Project StatusWhere have we been?Where are we going?

Breakout SessionsThis is your planInput

Mesa County Water SuppliesDrinking water from Grand Mesa & the Colorado River

Irrigation water from the Colorado River & Gunnison River

Ute Water reservoirs near Mesa

Grand Junction watershed (Kannah Cr)

Grand Valley Irrigation Canal diversion (1882; valley’s oldest)

Grand Valley Irrigation Providers

Water Quality Challenges Salt & Selenium Control program funded canal lining, other irrigation improvements.

Endangered Fish of the Colorado River Basin

Colorado pikeminnowPtychocheilus lucius

Razorback suckerXyrauchen texanus

Humpback chubGila cypha

BonytailGila elegans

Endangered Fish of the Colorado River Basin“15-mile reach” between Roller Dam and

Gunnison River inflow is critical habitat.Both transmountain diverters & west slope water

users provide water for fish flows. Recovery efforts have funded canal improvements

that allow full deliveries while leaving more water in the river.

Background Basin RoundtablesColorado Water PlanBasin Implementation Plan

Governor’s Executive Order - What?

Executive Order signed in May of 2013Plan will be prepared by the 9

RoundtablesDraft on State’s desk by July 2014Plan has to show how we meet the

consumptive and non-consumptive Gap48,000 AFY Consumptive Gap64 Critical Reaches Nonconsumptive Gap

Planning horizon is 2050

Governor’s Executive Order-Why?The “Gap” between future demand and future projects is

real….500,000 acre-feet per yearPopulation

Statewide growth to double from 5 to 10 millionFastest growth will be in the Colorado Basin Counties,

more than 240%Mesa County growth projected to be 190%

Drought Transfer of water rights from agriculture is unacceptable

500,000 to 700,000 acres ag to urban transfers StatewideWater quality impacts are becoming acute Interstate issues pressingFront Range new supply project

Your OpportunityCWP is an opportunity to transition from an

individual perspective to a regional perspective.

BIP Project Status –Where Have we Been?

Project Status –Where are we Going?

Colorado Basin Population Projections County

2000 Population

2030

Population

Increase in Population

2000 to 2030

Percent Change 2000 to

2030

Percent Annual Growth

Rate

Eagle 43,300 86,900 43,600 101 2.3

Garfield 43,800 119,900 76,100 274 5.2

Grand 12,900 28,800 15,900 123 2.7

Mesa 116,250 220,600 104,350 190 3.8

Pitkin 15,900 27,200 11,300 71 1.8

Summit 25,700 50,400 24,700 96 2.3

TOTAL 248,000 492,600 244,600 99 2.3

Population doubling

Ref: SWSI and AGNC

Population – Increasing, No “New” Water….Reallocation of existing use.

Many uses compete for a scarce and limited water supply

Municipal & Industrial9%

Agriculture86%

Recreation

Environment

22

Graphics provided by the Colorado Foundation for Water Education.

Conservation Ag to Urban

Transfers

New Projects(Colorado Basin development)

How can we Fill the Gap? Already planned projects (Windy Gap firming, Moffat Collection System) +

Graphics provided by the Colorado Foundation for Water Education

Threats, Challenges, Issues Compact CallsTransbasin diversionsEndangered SpeciesGrowth separation of land use and water

planningEnergy/Conditional Water Rights Shoshone Call Loss of agricultureClimate change

Imbalances between Supply and Demand (US BOR) - Exacerbate Current Stresses

Lake Powell Elevations

Colorado Basin Roundtable TasksAssess internal needs & identify projects to meet

themNegotiate how to meet state needs.

No Water to Support Other BasinsColorado Basin already has 100,000 AFY ag shortageSWSI - our basin will lose addl 80,000 acresWater Providers vulnerable to drought and compact callBOR study indicates shortage of 3.2 Million AFY with

current hydrology (Lake Powell and Mead)64 critical reaches already (headwater streams impaired)Uncertain futureRisk is non starterFirming and IPP’s and growing into existing water rights

will divert addl 150,000 AFYWater quality problems in middle and lower basinWe already contribute 400,000 – 600,000 AFY

Will A Transbasin Diversion Project be included in

Colorado’s Water Plan?

Figures from report “Water and its Relationship to the Economies of the Headwaters Counties,” commissioned by the Northwest Colorado Council of governments.

Roundtable ThemesLocal controlLand use - connection with water useHealthy rivers

Not just flat, but supporting healthy biologyMulti-purpose projects

Existing reservoirs, restricted, better cooperation of review Why reliance upon stream – vulnerable no redundancy

Save agricultureNo water to support other basinsProtect Mainstem water rights operationsRegional cooperationThemes change and evolve

Nonconsumptive Needs Assessment (NCNA)Part of the Statewide Water Supply Initiative

(SWSI) 2010Environmental and recreational mapping –

focus areas and projects and methodsHabitat restoration (bank stabilization or

instream habitat restoration)Flow protection [voluntary flow agreements,

instream flow (ISF) donations, voluntary re-operation of reservoirs for environmental and recreational benefit]

Nonconsumptive Needs Assessment (NCNA)Attributes at risk

Water quality/TemperatureGeomorphic functionRiparian/wetlands ecological functionAquatic ecological functionRecreational boating

#1 Factor affecting attributes - FLOWQuantification of “at-risk” reaches = 64+

Public Outreach Nonconsumptive

Recovery Program, Conservation Rep. for the Recovery Program Implementation Team Bureau of Reclamation Colorado Parks and Wildlife Denver Water Bureau of Land Management United States Forest Service Nonconsumptive Roundtable Representatives Trout Unlimited

Consumptive Water provider interviews Conservancy Districts Industry

Agricultural NRCS Ag Days (January 29) Rancher/Farmer individual meetings Colorado River District-Colorado River Water Supply and Demand Study

Misc AGNC NWCOG Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs Colleges County Commissioners

Upcoming MeetingsTown Hall Meetings

Thursday, April 10, 6-8 p.m., Aspen (Rio Grande Building/Conference Room)

Colorado Basin Roundtable MeetingsApril 14, 2014, Glenwood Springs Community Center, noon – 4 p.m.April 28, 2014, Glenwood Springs Community Center, noon – 4 p.m.

Have you Checked Out the Website? http://coloradobip.sgm-inc.com/

Thank YouThis is your plan and project….we

want to hear from You! You are driving this plan!

Breakout stationsConsumptiveNonconsumptive (Enviro. and Rec.)AgriculturePolicy

Grand Valley PrinciplesCornerstones of our economy - ag, resource extraction,

recreation and tourism Compact Call River health and water quality Climate change Agricultural heritage Local control of planning for development and water needsEnsure that federal agencies operate within existing state

water law Ensure that any future upstream water diversions protect

and maintain water quality for downstream users Implementation of a long term, regional water

augmentation program

Grand Valley Principles Collaborate with Colorado Compact states on long-term regional

augmentation Local water/land use plans/regulatory tools Limit the practices of “buy and dry” of agricultural lands Viable storage or enlargement of in-basin water storage projects Encourage agricultural water conservation - net water savings to be

marketed independently Protect existing state water law /Prior Appropriation Doctrine Avoid state mandates on local government, water providers and

irrigators Water bank Promote local cooperation and collaboration Economic incentives to promote “green” hydro-electric projects Promote river clean-up projects (e.g., desalinization in Glenwood

Springs and Dotsero) Any inter-basin water project must protect and mitigate basin of

origin Protect the important senior agricultural water rights (i.e. Grand

Valley senior irrigation water rights)

Grand Valley Irrigators StatementExisting Colorado Water Law/Protect Prior Appropriation

Doctrine – protect senior water rightsOppose mandates that adversely impact the flexible,

efficient, cost effective, operation of Grand Valley irrigators water rights

Eliminate barriers to efficient, wise & innovative use of ag water

Collaborate with municipal and irrigation entitiesReduce impacts to Grand Valley economyMarket-based to alternative ag water conversions/water

bankingShoshone (SHOP Agreement), Green Mountain, Blue

River decrees and additional reservoir storage