Craig Cotten Division Engineer ALAMOSA COLORADO Rio Grande River - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Craig Cotten Division Engineer

ALAMOSA COLORADO

0.0 100.0 200.0 300.0 400.0 500.0 600.0 700.0 800.0 900.0 1000.0 1100.0 1200.0 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Acre-Feet x 1000 Year

Rio Grande River near Del Norte, CO Annual Calendar Year Flows

AF x 1000 Running Avg.

1200 1000 800 600 400 200

Mid 1980’s 2002 currently

Groundwater

 Approximately 6,000 large capacity wells  Approximately 4,500 of those are active  Vast majority are irrigation wells  Water produced from both aquifers  State Engineer attempted to promulgate Rules and

Regulations in 1975. Attempt withdrawn in mid 1980’s

 Currently no specific groundwater use rules in

Division 3.

Ground Water Use Rules

Ground Water Use Rules are necessary to:

1.

Protect Senior Water Rights

2.

Maintain Sustainable Underground Water Supplies

3.

Maintain Compact Compliance

Options for Well Owners

1.

Obtain an Individual or “Blanket” Plan for Augmentation (Water Court)

2.

Participate in a Ground Water Management Subdistrict

3.

Discontinue Non-Exempt Well Use

SUBDISTRICT CONCEPTS

 MARKET BASED APPROACH TO REDUCE WATER

CONSUMPTION, REPLACE INJURY.

 ESTABLISHED IN AREAS OF COMMON INTEREST

AND WATER USE.

 LEVY FEES ON LANDS DEPENDING ON THE

BENEFITS THE LANDS RECEIVE FROM GROUNDWATER.

 LOCALLY GOVERNED.  LAND FALLOWING – LOCALLY RUN CREP.

 First Subdistrict plan approved by Colorado

Supreme Court last year.

 2012 was first year of Subdistrict #1 operation.  Replacement of injurious depletions began May 1,

2012.

 Next Annual Operating Plan due to State Engineer

by April 15.

The End