Colorado Population 4.8 million 2030 projection 7.1 million Denver Metro Population 2.4 million. Denver projected 2030 projection 3.

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1 Water Wars Surface/Groundwater Conflict in Colorado 2003-Present Tom Cech Executive Director Central Colorado Water Conservancy District Greeley, Colorado Ground Water Protection Council Salt Lake City, Utah September 15, 2009

2 Water Wars Surface/Groundwater conflicts across the United States: - Republican River - Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska - Snake River Idaho * South Platte River - Colorado

3 Colorado The Centennial State

4 South Platte River Basin Facts Colorado Population 4.8 million 2030 projection 7.1 million Denver Metro Population 2.4 million (30% growth since 1990) Denver projected 2030 projection 3.9 million Water shortfall by 2030 in the South Platte Basin 410,000 acre feet (134 billion gallons) Acres of irrigated land expected to be dried up by 2030 in the South Platte Basin 133, ,000 acres

5 South Platte Basin Facts Crops Corn, alfalfa, Sugar beets, cabbage, Sweet corn, tomatoes Lettuce, spinach, Potatoes, carrots, Pinto beans, onions Weld County was #3 ag Producer in the U.S.

6 South Platte River South Platte Alluvial Aquifer Dry South Platte River at approximately Ogallala, Nebraska, 18 million acre feet August 2006 of groundwater (5.9 trillion gallons) (just downstream of Colorado)

7 Colorado Water Law 1859 Gold Rush in Colorado 1876 Colorado becomes a state Colorado Constitution (1876) Doctrine of Prior Appropriation first in time, first in right

8 Colorado Water Development History Hundreds of irrigation ditches (canals) were constructed between along the South Platte River. Alluvial wells were constructed in the early 1900s, and after the droughts of the 1930s and 1950s. Under the Doctrine of Prior Appropriation, irrigation ditches received a river diversion priority date, such as May 2, 1863 for 75 cubic feet/second. Wells received no priority date.

9 Colorado Water History Approximately 10,000 alluvial wells were drilled in the South Platte Basin by the Colorado Legislature voted to not allow new wells (only replacement wells), and required alluvial well owners to comply with the Doctrine of Prior Appropriation Augmentation Plans are created.

10 Well pumping creates a cone of depression in the aquifer.

11 South Platte River Basin Water War Irrigation well pumping can injure senior water rights along the South Platte River.

12 Alluvial Well Decree

13 Common Comments of Wellowners in Colorado They ll never shut off my well. I own the groundwater beneath my farm, not the State of fc Colorado. Shutting off wells would be like communism in the U.S. I ll Ill have a gun if they come on to my property. The State Legislature will solve the problem. There is plenty of water for everyone. Groundwater pumping does not affect stream flows.

14 2002 The Perfect Storm 1973 Augmentation Plans Develop Twenty wettest years in Colorado history 2002 Driest year in over 300 years Flood Fort Collins, Colorado, 1997 Drought July 2002

15 2003 Well Curtailment Begins Approximately 3,000 wells are not allowed to pump Decision of the Colorado State Engineer (Division of Water Resources) Decision reached to comply with the Doctrine of Prior Appropriation first in time, first in right No compensation to wellowners Lawsuits begin, some wellowners pump illegally. Initial public meeting 700 ag producers attend

16 2006 Well Curtailment Reaches Epic Proportions Well Augmentation Subdistrict formed in 2004, $5,000/well to join, $40/acre-foot annual assessment $40/acre-foot (325,851 gallons) annual fee for pumping Pumped 100% in 2004, 50% in 2005, 15% in 2006 Spring 2006 planted crops, April snowpack 107%. May 1 st snowpack at 74%. State Engineer does not allow wells to pump. May 7, 2006 well shutdown occurs after crops are planted 440 wells (200 ag producers, schools, trailer court, dairies, feedlots) st,

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18 Water Wells Shut Down Bill Jackson, (Bio) May 11, 2006 Weld County Commissioners have declared a disaster emergency for the county, spurring state and federal legislators to react with plans to help farmers who have been forced to shut down irrigation wells along the South Platte River. One of those is Frank Eckhardt of La Salle, who was busy Wednesday afternoon roughing his sugar beet fields in an attempt to keep the wind from blowing the crop out. Eckhardt said he has been forced to shut down eight wells that normally provide supplemental water he uses to finish his crops each year. "We've already used what river water we could to get the beets up because it's been so dry, so now we've got to find a way to keep them going. If we could get some good rain or if Denver could get some rain, it would sure help," Eckhardt said. Rain in Denver would result in more water coming down the South Platte. He said about the only thing left for him and other farmers to do "is to make as much noise as we can in the hope that we can convince them to let us pump our wells at least this year. " The commissioner's s resolution will help, he added. Frank Eckhardt of La Salle walks through one of his sugar beet fields examining the new shoots while an employee runs a rotary hoe through the field to prevent erosion. Eckhardt said Wednesday he has been forced to shut down eight of his wells and that many area farmers are facing a crisis with their water supplies. On Wednesday the Weld County Commissioners and Gov. Bill Owens responded by declaring a state of disaster emergency for the eastern plains, including Weld County, hoping to get federal and state funding to help farmers who were forced to shut down irrigation wells along the South Platte River. HILLARY WHEAT / hwheat@greeleytribune.com

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20 May 2006 Media Coverage of Well Shutdown Crisis Begins

21 Many public meetings. Court cases cost approx. $3.0 million Well decrees are 100 pages in length

22 Response to Well Curtailment in Shockh k Anger Depression Acceptance Transition 2006

23 Colorado s Groundwater Future 2,000 3,000 alluvial groundwater wells will never pump again no financial compensation All alluvial groundwater wells will be metered Small community impacts fertilizer dealers, seed corn sales, implement dealers Land converting back to dryland values reduced d taxes for schools, fire districts i t Cultural changes

24 Solutions Lining gg gravel pits for water storage

25 Solutions Artificial Recharge

26 Lupton Bottoms Ditch Diversion Dam (South Platte River)

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30 CCWCD Projects

31 CCWCD Projects

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