Gunnison Basin Implementation Plan Presentation to the Colorado Water Conservation Board

Gunnison Basin Implementation Plan

Presentation to the Colorado Water Conservation Board

July 16, 2014

The GBIP in a Nutshell: Approach• Solid guidance from GBIP subcommittee• Minor restructuring to address local issues and flow• Targeted technical outreach• GBRT assistance with public outreach • Avoid duplication of previous efforts

The GBIP in a Nutshell: Content• Primary Goal: Protect Existing Uses• Focus on Agricultural Shortages• Agricultural Shortages = Agricultural Gap• Focus on Modeling • Tiered & Combined Project List

Draft Plan Overview

Comparison to CWCB Guidance

CWCB Guidance Gunnison Basin Implementation Plan Executive Summary Executive Summary 1. Basin Goals and Measurable Outcomes 1. Basin Goals 2. Evaluate Consumptive and Nonconsumptive Needs 2. Basin Needs

2.1 Nonconsumptive Needs 2.4 Environmental and Recreational Needs

2.2 Consumptive Needs 2.2 Agricultural Needs 2.3 Municipal and Industrial Needs

3. Evaluate Consumptive and Nonconsumptive Constraints and Opportunities

4. Basin Projects

3.1 Current Basin Water Operations and Hydrology Introduction

3.2 Water Management and Water Administration (Optional) 3.3 Hydrologic Modeling (Optional) Introduction and 3. Basin Evaluations 3.4 Shortages Analysis 2. Basin Needs and 3. Basin Evaluations 4. Projects and Methods 4. Basin Projects 4.1 Education, Participation & Outreach

Introduction and 4. Basin Projects 4.2 Watershed Health 4.3 Conservation Projects and Methods

4. Basin Projects

4.4 New Multi-Purpose, Cooperative, and Regional Projects and Methods 4.5 M&I Projects and Methods 4.6 Agricultural Projects & Methods 4.7 Nonconsumptive Projects and Methods 4.8 Interbasin Projects and Methods (Optional) 5. Implementation Strategies for the Projects and Methods

5. Conclusions and Recommendations 6. How the plan meets the Roundtables’ Goals and Measurable Outcomes

Introduction1. Overview of the Gunnison Basin

• Layout and Land Ownership• Hydrology and Water Management• Water Rights Administration• Environmental Flow Management• Water Quality and Watershed Management• Water Related Recreation• Economic Impacts of Water Use

2. Overview of the Gunnison Basin Implementation Plan• Purpose• Outreach Process• Report Structure

3. Overview of Available Basin Information• Modeling Tools• Basin Studies

Section 1: Basin Goals1. Introduction2. Basin Goals3. Statewide Principles

Basin GoalsPrimary Goal: 1. Protect existing water uses in the Gunnison Basin.Complimentary Goals (order does not indicate priority):2. Discourage the conversion of productive agricultural land to all other uses

within the context of private property rights.3. Improve agricultural water supplies to reduce shortages.4. Identify and address municipal and industrial water shortages.5. Quantify and protect environmental and recreational water uses.6. Maintain or, where necessary, improve water quality throughout the basin.7. Describe and encourage the beneficial relationship between agricultural

and environmental/ recreational water uses.8. Restore, maintain, and modernize critical water infrastructure, including

hydropower.9. Maintain an active and comprehensive public education process about

water resources in the Gunnison Basin.

Statewide Principles Risk Management: proponents of Colorado River development accept

shortage risks, prior appropriation, and protect existing water uses. New supply development affects the entire West Slope, as well as the

Front Range diverters. New supply development from the Colorado River System must have

identified sponsors/beneficiaries, and meet certain minimum criteria. Local solutions must be utilized to meet Colorado’s future water needs

without a state water project or related placeholder water right. Water conservation, demand management, and land use planning that

incorporates water supply should be equitably employed statewide. Scenario planning should be used as the principle tool for water planning. Statewide discussion, outreach, and education concerning the GBRT’s

vision for water development in Colorado should be continued.

Section 2: Basin Needs1. Introduction2. Agricultural Needs

• Summary of Process• Recent Updates (Including Drought Study Impacts)• Summary of Needs

3. Municipal and Industrial Needs• Summary of Process• Recent Updates (Including Drought Study Impacts)• Summary of Needs

4. Environmental and Recreational Needs• Summary of Process• Recent Updates (Including Drought Study Impacts)• Summary of Needs

Section 2: Basin Needs – Ag Shortages

Tributary (Water District)Crop Irrigation

Requirement (CIR) (AFY)

Irrigation CU (AFY)

Shortage (AFY)

Percent Shortage

Tomichi Creek (28) 62,400 49,800 12,600 20%

North Fork & Tributaries (40) 224,600 156,200 68,400 30%

Lower Uncompaghre River (41) 172,800 169,700 3,100 2%

Lower Gunnison River (42) 15,600 10,600 5,000 32%

East River Basin (59) 73,200 56,500 16,700 23%

Upper Gunnison River (62) 34,800 32,300 2,500 7%

Upper Uncompaghre River (68) 30,400 27,300 3,100 10%

Total Gunnison River Basin 613,800 502,400 111,400 18%

Section 3: Basin Evaluations1. Introduction2. Gunnison Basin Water Resources Allocation Model3. Case Studies• Water Availability Analysis (Historical Hydrology)• Water Availability Analysis (CRWAS Projected

Climate Hydrology)• Upper Basin Supplemental Irrigation Decrees• Multipurpose Win-Win Projects• Instream Flow Analysis

4. Mapping Overlays

Case Study Example – Historical Hydrology

Case Study Example – CRWAS Projected Climate Hydrology

Case Study Example – Instream Flow Analysis

Section 4: Basin Projects1. Introduction2. Project Lists• Planned Projects• Environmental Protections and Monitoring• Completed and Ongoing Projects

3. Project Summary Template4. Project Summaries (Planned Projects)

Section 4: Projects to Highlight• Tier 1: Implementation likely feasible by 2020; project

does excellent job of meeting Basin Goals.• Tier 2: Implementation likely not feasible by 2020;

project would excel at meeting Basin Goals. Project may also have important conditional water rights and/or completed planning efforts.• Tier 3: Implementation likely not feasible by 2020;

project in preliminary stages of planning and/or may meet Basin Goals to lesser degree.

Section 4 – Planned Project List• Started with most recent SWSI list – new & refined• Projects assessed for: water availability, feasibility,

and competition for same water• Modeling analysis as requested• Large variability in project data• Significant effort in data collection• Proposed inventory projects• Inventory, assessment, and prioritization• Address infrastructure needs

Section 4 – Planned Project List

Project Summary Sheets

Project Name No Chico BrushProject Sponsor Cary Denison, Trout UnlimitedCategory Sponsor Type: ☒Partnership

Use Type: ☒ NC ☒Ag ☒ M&I (check multiple if Multi-Purpose)

Project Type: ☒ Structural ☐ Non-Structural

Geographic Extent: ☐ Single District ☒ Multi-District ☐ Transbasin

Water Districts Colorado Division of Water Resources Water District 4Volume of Water

Gained or Saved

Saved water estimated at 90,000 acre feet

Purpose To improve efficiency on and off farm to improve water quality, storage, and instream flow

Est. Completion Date

2020

Est. Total Budget $211,000,000Constraints and Challenges

Social acceptance of water efficiency and conservation as a tool to address water demands throughout Colorado River basin

Costs- success hinges in part on large structural improvement not just to Bureau projects or salinity reduction areas

Education- changing the approach to water use and applications practices

Implementation Steps and Project Scope

On and off farm analysis of crop demands

Outreach and education for water users and managers

Project design

Project Funding

Effectiveness at Meeting Basin Goals

This project addresses the needs and goals of Gunnison Basin by addressing agricultural water shortages, long term supply for future uses, non-consumptive needs as well as addressing risk management.

Example - Project Specific Analysis

Section 5: Conclusions & Recommendations1. Introduction2. Conclusions• Basin Goals• Basin Needs• Basin Evaluations• Basin Projects• Project Effectiveness in Meeting Goals and Measurable

Outcomes

3. Recommendations (Implementation Strategies)• Project Acceptance• Project Feasibility

Project Effectiveness per GoalsRef. No. Project Basin Goals Met

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 Inventory of Irrigation Infrastructure Improvement Needs – District 28 2 Cole Reservoirs #4 and #5 3 Crawford Reservoir System Improvements 4 Doughty #1 - Chipmunk Reservoir 5 Fire Mountain Canal Delivery Efficiency Project 6 Granby Reservoirs (#5 and #11) Rehabilitation 7 Marcott Reservoir 8 North Delta Canal 9 Orchard Ranch Ditch

10 Overland Reservoir Enlargement (Part 2) 11 Paonia Reservoir Sediment Removal and Outlet Modification Project 12 Young’s Creek Reservoirs (#1 & #2) Rehabilitation

13 Inventory of Irrigation Infrastructure Improvement Needs - District 40, Grand Mesa (Surface Creek) Sub-basin

14 Inventory of Irrigation Infrastructure Improvement Needs - District 40, Upper North Fork

Recommendations: Strategies Tied to Constraints

Category Constraint Strategies

ProjectAcceptance

Conflict PartnershipsCooperative Strategies

Perception Public Education and OutreachIncentive-Based Programs

Regulations Cooperative StrategiesRegulatory Streamlining

ProjectFeasibility

CostCreative Funding MechanismsPartnerships and Cooperative Strategies

Water AvailabilityWater Availability AnalysesWater Administration Strategies

Constructability Feasibility AnalysesEngineering Design

GBIP Status• On schedule and on budget• GBRT review of 2 full drafts (tracking changes)• Incorporating final comments• Final draft comment deadline this Friday (7/18/14)• GBIP Subcommittee Meeting: 7/29/14• Submittal to CWCB: 7/31/14• No current plans for further funding

Questions?