Presented to CCWCD, CSU Cooperative Extension Presented to CCWCD, CSU Cooperative Extension FACING DRIER REALITIES IN THE SOUTH PLATTE BASIN FACING DRIER REALITIES IN THE SOUTH PLATTE BASIN November 30, 2005 November 30, 2005 Peter D Binney, P.E. Director, Aurora Water Aurora, Colorado [email protected]
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FACING DRIER REALITIES IN THE SOUTH PLATTE BASINwaterquality.colostate.edu/documents/AuroraWater.pdf · FACING DRIER REALITIES IN THE SOUTH PLATTE BASIN ... Miscellaneous 7%. ...
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Droughts Limit The Amount of Water Available to Serve Our CommunitiesDroughts Limit The Amount of Water Available to Serve Our Communities
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Currently Developed Water Sources and Infrastructure Can be Compromised By Drought
Currently Developed Water Sources and Infrastructure Can be Compromised By Drought
River Basins Have Varying Water Supply Conditions (1981 – 2005)River Basins Have Varying Water Supply Conditions (1981 – 2005)
Colorado River SWSI - 1981-2005
-5.0
-4.0
-3.0
-2.0
-1.0
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
Jun-
81
Jun-
83
Jun-
85
Jun-
87
Jun-
89
Jun-
91
Jun-
93
Jun-
95
Jun-
97
Jun-
99
Jun-
01
Jun-
03
Jun-
05
SWSI
South Platte SWSI -1981-2005
-4.0
-3.0
-2.0
-1.0
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
Jun-81
Jun-83
Jun-85
Jun-87
Jun-89
Jun-91
Jun-93
Jun-95
Jun-97
Jun-99
Jun-01
Jun-03
Jun-05
SWSI
Colorado River
South Platte River
Communities Must Locate, Develop and Deliver New Sources of Water to
Provide a Reliable Level of Service for Current and Future Residents
and Businesses
Communities Must Locate, Develop and Deliver New Sources of Water to
Provide a Reliable Level of Service for Current and Future Residents
and Businesses.
How Will Cities Acquire Needed Water Supplies?How Will Cities Acquire Needed Water Supplies?
Water ConservationUse Reclaimed Water For Parks / Golf CoursesRecapture Reusable Return FlowsAcquire and Transfer Water From Existing Agricultural Uses:
Lease During DroughtsPurchase and Dry-Up FarmlandsIncrease Agricultural Efficiency/ Transfer SavingsRotational FallowingPurchase and Leaseback for Certain Times
Develop New Sources of Water From Trans-Basin DiversionsBuild Reservoirs and Pipes/ Treatment PlantsAddress Water Quality Issues
Cities MUST Cooperatively Work With Areas Where Water Will be DevelopedCities MUST Cooperatively Work With Areas Where Water Will be Developed
The recapture of reusable return flows will affect flow patterns and yields in the South Platte RiverSome farmers will exercise their property rights to use, transfer, lease or periodically fallow historic agricultural water usesCities must pay for water rights, infrastructure and mitigation but the total cost must be absorbed in affordable municipal rate structuresCities must work with rural communities – can effective local/ 1041 regulations shape the future? Can workable relationships be developed for the benefit of both entities?
Purchase of Rocky Ford Ditch with re-vegetation, School Payments, Economic DevelopmentLake County Transfer/ Open Space InitiativeHigh Line Canal Interruptible Supply ProgramRocky Ford II Drip Irrigation ProgramLower South Platte Augmentation Water Program/ Integrated OperationsLower South Platte Lease Back program
What is Colorado’s Future?What is Colorado’s Future?