COLORADO’S GRANT PROGRAM TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVEAGRICULTURAL WATER TRANSFER METHODS

摘要

Rapid population growth, urbanization and increased competition for water have createdsignificant pressures on certain agricultural sectors of Colorado’s economy.Conservative estimates indicate that Colorado could lose almost 500,000 irrigated acresby the year 2030 as water is transferred out of agriculture and into municipal andindustrial uses. A major portion of those acres will likely be lost in the Arkansas andSouth Platte basins. To better understand and to help address this trend, the ColoradoWater Conservation Board (CWCB) authorized staff to further investigate alternatives totraditional purchase and transfer of water from irrigated lands to new uses. In addition,the 2007 Colorado legislature authorized the CWCB to develop a grant program tofacilitate the development and implementation of alternative agricultural water transfermethods.The CWCB has awarded $1.5 million in grants to water and sanitation districts, irrigationcompanies, water conservancy districts, and other organizations to study alternative watertransfer methods. Projects include field research on deficit irrigation and quantificationof consumptive use savings; research regarding establishment of water banks; research onnew institutional and legal mechanisms to facilitate alternative water transfers; andcreation of tools to help agricultural producers and others to evaluate the economicfeasibility of alternative water transfers.The Colorado Corn Growers Association, Ducks Unlimited, and The City of Aurora,Colorado were awarded funding for a project that includes development of practicalguidance for agricultural producers and others for implementation of alternative watertransfer methods. The guidance, along with other data and information, will be used andtested in the development of three wetland/alluvial aquifer recharge projects. The watersupplies for the wetlands will be obtained from alternative water transfers. The waterthat is recharged to the alluvial aquifer from the wetlands will eventually reach the SouthPlatte River and will be available for use by municipalities or industry.