Gunnison Basin Implementation Plan Presentation to the Colorado
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
Introduction 1. 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 Goals 1. Introduction 2. Basin Goals 3. Statewide Principles
Basin Goals Primary 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 Needs 1. Introduction 2. 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 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% Tributary (Water District)
Section 3: Basin Evaluations 1. Introduction 2. Gunnison Basin Water Resources Allocation Model 3. 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 Projects 1. Introduction 2. Project Lists • Planned Projects • Environmental Protections and Monitoring • Completed and Ongoing Projects 3. Project Summary Template 4. 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 Project Sponsor Category No Chico Brush Cary Denison, Trout Unlimited Sponsor Type: ☒Partnership Use Type: ☒ NC Project Type: ☒ Structural ☒Ag ☒ M&I (check multiple if Multi-Purpose) ☐ Non-Structural Geographic Extent: ☐ Single District ☒ Multi-District ☐ Transbasin Water Districts Volume of Water Colorado Division of Water Resources Water District 4 Saved water estimated at 90, 000 acre feet Gained or Saved Purpose Est. Completion Date Est. Total Budget Constraints and Challenges Implementation Steps and Project Scope To improve efficiency on and off farm to improve water quality, storage, and instream flow 2020 $211, 000 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 On and off farm analysis of crop demands Outreach and education for water users and managers Project design Project Funding Effectiveness at This project addresses the needs and goals of Gunnison Basin by addressing Meeting Basin Goals 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 & Recommendations 1. Introduction 2. 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 Goals
Recommendations: Strategies Tied to Constraints Category Constraint Conflict Project Acceptance Perception Regulations Cost Project Feasibility Water Availability Constructability Strategies Partnerships Cooperative Strategies Public Education and Outreach Incentive-Based Programs Cooperative Strategies Regulatory Streamlining Creative Funding Mechanisms Partnerships and Cooperative Strategies Water Availability Analyses Water Administration Strategies Feasibility Analyses Engineering 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?
- Slides: 28