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Ag-urban water lease plan submitted [The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo. :: ](Pueblo Chieftain (CO) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 23--The Arkansas Valley Super Ditch is planning a pilot program next year under a 2013 state law encouraging water sharing programs as an alternative to permanent dry-up of farm ground. The plan, filed with the Colorado Water Conservation Board last week, would lease up to 500 acre-feet (163 million gallons) annually from the Catlin Canal to Fowler, Fountain and Security. About 1,128 acres would be dried up on a rotational basis to deliver the water. "What we're trying to do is see if a leasefallowing program is viable," said Jay Winner, general manager of the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District. "We're trying to keep the water in the Arkansas basin. That's what it's all about." The application is the first to be filed under HB1248, passed last year by the state Legislature, which allows the CWCB to look at 10 test projthroughout the state. The projects are supervised by the state water board, with input from the state engineer. It may finally launch Super Ditch pilot projects that have stalled because of drought and second thoughts by farmers. The Super Ditch submitted a substitute water supply plan with the state Division of Water Resources in 2012 for a lease-fallowing pilot project with Fountain and Security that failed because there was not enough water to move. The state restrictions that were placed on the project, fueled by objections from other water users, made moving any water in that dry year futile, Winner explained. Last year, the Super Ditch was prepared to move some High Line Canal water to Fowler, but the deal was stopped when farmers pulled out. Fowler leased 125 acrefeet of water for $25,000 from the Pueblo Board of Water Works instead. Under the plan outlined in the application, Fowler would lease up to 250 acre-feet, while Fountain and Security would lease up to 125 acre-feet each annually. State law provides that the plan can be operated for 10 years. "I think we'll try it for a year or two, just to see if lease-fallowing is feasible," Winner said. "We have to see if we can move water to Lake Pueblo. One of the drawbacks of HB1248 is that it only allows for municipal leasing, but if this works, there's the possibility for industrial or agricultural leases as well." [email protected] ___ (c)2014 The Pueblo Chieftain (Pueblo, Colo.) Visit The Pueblo Chieftain (Pueblo, Colo.) at www.chieftain.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |