
The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and the city of Fort Collins have promised some trans-mountain water to help out the farmers on the South Platte whose wells in the river's alluvial aquifer were shut down this week, according to the Fort Collins Coloradoan.
From the article, "After a lengthy board meeting Friday morning and a two-hour conference call with district water-right owners in the afternoon, the water district agreed to lease 10,000 acre-feet of water to well users. While promising, it was unclear whether the development would solve a problem that threatens to wipe out $1 million in crops, including those of some of the state's most prominent farmers. That's because cities that worry their water rights could be harmed by well-pumping this year would have to sign off on the plan, as would the state. The deal was approved Friday by several cities and irrigation ditch owners, but the plan still required approval from the state and other irrigation ditch owners who had sued the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District to shut down the wells...
"It's 'possible' the 10,000 acre-feet, which would come from the Northern water district's Windy Gap Project on the Western Slope, would be enough to cover this year's well use, which is still just 15 percent of normal, Hertzke said..
"Under the plan, Northern water district would lease Windy Gap water to the Central water district for about $600,000. The Central water district also reserved 2,000 acre-feet of rental water from Fort Collins on Friday, said Dennis Bode, the city's water resources manager. The city made the water available about two weeks ago at $28 an acre-foot. Fort Collins already has leased about 16,000 acre-feet to area farmers this year, Bode said."
Here's the coverage from the Rocky Mountain News. They write, "Without water, more than $1 million of crops are likely to die within 10 days, said Jim Reasoner, president of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District. The deal reached Friday, which officials caution still has not been approved by all parties, calls for moving 10,000 acre-feet of water from the Western Slope, enough for this summer's crops on the affected farms. The water would come from the Windy Gap Project through the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District and might allow farmers to restart their pumps as early as next week, said Greg Hertzke, water acquisitions manager for the district. Several cities and irrigation ditch owners participating in the Windy Gap Project agreed to the proposal. But the cities of Boulder, Highlands Ranch and Sterling, which have been sharply critical of the well owners, had not approved the agreement. State Engineer Hal Simpson also must approve any plan..."
"Aurora, too, has said it will free up water for the farmers. Late Friday, Aurora Utilities Director Peter Binney said 500 to 1,000 acre- feet might be available but that the technical calculations aren't finished. To restart the wells would likely require an emergency trip back to water court, where those who have objected to the irrigation wells would have to approve any new plan to pump this year, Reasoner said."
Here's the coverage from the Denver Post. They write, "It is not clear whether the 10,000 acre-feet will be enough to help the farmers. Some are completely well-dependent, while others also irrigate their crops with river water...
"In addition to Windy Gap water, the central district may have access to more water from the city of Aurora. The district already has a lease from the city for about 8,800 acre-feet of water, and there may be a way to extend that supply, said Peter Binney, Aurora's utility director...Both Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave and Sen. Wayne Allard have asked President Bush to declare a national disaster for Weld, Morgan and Adams counties."
Category: Colorado Water
6:45:52 AM
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