WATER RESOURCE PROGRAM

Transcription

1 SOUTH PLATTE WATER RESOURCE PROGRAM Establishing a lasting legacy of abundant clean water for waterfowl, wildlife and people

2 Water is an essential resource for life and good health. It is vitally important for growing crops, manufacturing products, maintaining households, and sustaining wildlife habitat. But available water resources are growing thin in the thirsty state of Colorado, where annual precipitation ranges between 7 and 16 inches. Growing corn, a historically irrigated crop in Colorado, requires up to 28 inches of water, placing strong demand on areas like the South Platte River Basin. In addition to high agricultural demands, Colorado s fast growing urban population is combining to reduce flows in the South Platte to a mere trickle at times. If the situation is left unaddressed, severe water shortages could be realized within the next six years. THE PROBLEM IS GROWING Demands on Colorado s water resources are climbing to unsustainable levels as populations grow and economies shift away Available water from agriculture communities. resources are growing thin in Colorado and competition for water is putting increased pressure on agriculture, people, Water rights historically owned by agriculture are being purchased and removed from the land to meet urban and industrial needs, resulting in the degradation and loss of irrigation and wildlife. dependent wetlands. Colorado s prior appropriation doctrine protects water rights holders from injury due to diminished water supplies but provides no protection for ecosystem function. Without innovative solutions the future of Colorado s wildlife, people, economies, and cultural traditions Colorado is already struggling to meet the combined demands for municipal, agricultural, industrial, recreational, and environmental needs. A recent study indicates that if Colorado s population continues to grow as projected, severe shortfalls could be realized within the next six years. Within 35 years, the state could see a shortfall of up to 196,000 acrefeet of water, or the equivalent of enough to supply over 1.2 million people. In the late 1800 s when Colorado s system of water rights was developed, the majority of water rights were established for agricultural production, and to this day, over 80% still remain agriculturally dedicated. Water used on the fields seeps down into the underlying aquifer, supplying wetlands and eventually returning to the river. However, Front Range cities and industries are scrambling to purchase water rights from agriculture to meet their growing demands. The Colorado Water Conservation Board predicts the demands could translate to a loss of up to 267,000 irrigated acres currently under production with South Platte water. Without innovative solutions, migrating birds will not have the critical wetland habitat and food plots necessary to DUCKS UNLIMITED OFFERS A SOLUTION By taking advantage of river water during periods of low demand, Ducks Unlimited (DU) has an innovative program to supplement agricultural, municipal, and industrial water needs as well as providing critical waterfowl habitat. DU is helping water users develop streamflow augmentation programs through the use of recharge wetlands that can be filled during the spring and winter months when agricultural and urban demands are low but the need for waterfowl migration habitat is high. Water then seeps through the porous wetland soils and replenishes, or recharges, the underlying aquifer, later supplementing streamflow during periods of high demand. With the use of streamflow augmentation programs, the water that returns to the river generates credits that can be sold or leased to farmers, municipalities, and industry to allow additional water use during periods of peak demand, such as the summer growing season. are greatly threatened. rest and refuel as they head to northern nesting grounds.

3 RECHARGE WETLANDS : 7 Benefitting people and waterfowl RECYCLING WATER On average, water in the South Platte Basin is used seven times before it crosses the Nebraska State line Recharge wetlands are located away from the river channel but are designed to be hydraulically connected to the river via groundwater. Water is pumped or diverted into the wetlands during periods of low demand on the river. It then percolates through the porous wetland soils into the underlying aquifer, and slowly returns underground to the river channel. This retiming of streamflow, from times of excess to times of shortage, creates credits that allow junior water rights holders to operate during periods of high demand, when their use would otherwise be curtailed. Water users earn credits by flooding wetlands during winter and spring months when demands on the river are low and the need for waterfowl habitat is high Dry zone Recharge zone Groundwater aquifer Water percolates into the aquifer, eventually Water users can utilize augmentation credits to operate during supplementing streamflow and generating periods of high demand on the river, when their water use would river augmentation credits to offset water use otherwise be curtailed. Credits can also be used to promote during periods of high demand. residential and industrial development.

4 THE SOUTH PLATTE A critical resource for wildlife and people The South Platte River is the main artery with lower magnitude as water providers responsible for delivering water to the people store excess water in offstream reservoirs and wildlife of Northeastern Colorado. to support summer irrigation and other During spring and fall migrations, the river uses. With the changing flow regime and serves as an oasis for waterfowl as they utilize development of irrigation throughout the the shallow braided system of sloughs and basin, many wetlands critical to waterfowl wetlands for critical habitat. Historically, are now primarily supported by irrigation flushing flows driven by spring snowmelt return flows. and periodic large rain events maintained South Platte water resources are vitally the channel by scouring away shallow important to local enterprises and rural rooted vegetation and creating shallow water economies in the Basin. Agribusiness is wetlands adjacent to the channel. Today, responsible for nearly 70,000 jobs in the large flood events occur less frequently and South Platte Basin and accounts for more than 30% of the total labor force in most of the rural eastern counties. Three of the top-five agricultural counties in Colorado, in terms of gross sales, are all located in the South Platte River Basin, totaling approximately $2.5 billion in Current demands on the river range between 1.1 and 1.5 million acrefeet of water per year, or roughly 1 billion gallons per day. With studies projecting the demands from municipalities and industry doubling by 2050 and requiring an additional 400,000 acre-feet annually, careful planning and prudent allocation will be paramount. Fig 1. Acre-feet/year in thousands South Platte Basin and Metro Basin projected water supply gap 0 Year Existing supply 2050 Identified projects and processes (IPP s) 2050 Gap projection Source: 2015 South Platte Basin Implementation Plan Ducks Unlimited s WATER RESOURCE PROGRAM The goal of the Water Resources Program at DU is to continue delivering innovative solutions to modern facilities, the program has grown to now include over ten successful projects along the South Platte River as of The projects are complex, often involving multiple landowners and water providers in addition to DU. They range in size from 40 to 300 acres and total more than 2,150 acres of diverse habitat. Individual project costs range from $300,000 to $500,000, with over $2 million invested to date. DU has been highly successful leveraging funds for projects through grants and loans from SOUTH PLATTE WETLAND RECHARGE PROJECTS other organizations, only incurring an average 10% of the total cost of project delivery. More importantly, DU projects deliver long-term value to our water partners through efficient completion of inexpensive projects. DU s wetland recharge programs have been providing water during summer months for $14.50/acre-foot over the 30 year life of the project. Most reservoir and storage projects exceed $200/acre-foot, so it s easy to see why providers want to work with DU. water issues through high quality wetland creation and conservation strategies. Since 1987, DU has been developing partnerships in Colorado with cities, GREELEY farms, schools, industry, and government agencies to deliver river augmentation projects. Whether independent or in-concert with other recharge Competed wetland recharge projects

5 PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT Water demands in the South Platte basin are steadily increasing and DU s Water Resource Program aims to provide an effective and efficient compliment to other water management strategies. We envision a program capable of delivering water for municipal and industrial needs, while supporting strong agricultural economies and providing benefit for DU s mission and objectives. Strong progress into the future will require $2 million in additional support to purchase land and easements for recharge wetlands, secure water rights, and build desperately needed infrastructure. Funds provided to DU can be leveraged into grants and loans worth 15 times more than DU invests. Through DU, you directly provide abundant, clean water for waterfowl, wildlife, and people, the heart of DU s mission. CONTACT: Kirk Davidson /kdavidson@ducks.org Jason Roudebush /jroudebush@ducks.org 2525 River Road Bismarck, ND