Date: 09/04/2014
Final
Panel Discussion on Current South Platte Groundwater Issues
WATER RESOURCES REVIEW COMMITTEE
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04:17 PM -- Panel Discussion on Current South Platte Groundwater Issues
Randy Ray, Executive Director, Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, discussed the need for additional data and groundwater models and possible changes to augmentation requirements in the South Platte Basin. He also identified challenges to greater water sharing between his district and the water users in the South Platte Basin for augmentation and the need for additional storage in the basin. He discussed the potential benefits of controlling phreatophytes in the basin and the Chatfield reallocation project.
04:24 PM
Jo Frank, General Manager, Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District, discussed the need for water augmentation to protect senior water rights from injury caused by out-of-priority depletions and infrastructure needs to help lower high groundwater levels and enable the basin to more efficiently use water. He discussed historic groundwater levels in the basin and factors that affect changes in these levels. He also identified the potential benefits of building additional storage in the basin to better regulate water use in the basin and conjuctive use.
04:32 PM
Robert Longenbaugh, representing himself, discussed the need for changes in augmentation requirements to better ensure maximum beneficial use of Colorado water resources and the need for additional water storage in Colorado. He also discussed problems associated with high groundwater levels in the South Platte Basin and possible policies to address these problems including implementation of Recommendations 1a and 1b from the HB 12-1278 Study Report. He discussed the potential benefits of controlling phreatophytes in the basin, additional storage, and other mechanisms to address growing water demands in the South Platte Basin.
04:49 PM
Mr. Frank and Mr. Ray responded to questions from the committee about historic groundwater levels in the basin and factors that affect changes in these levels, and potential members of the HB 12-1278 Study Technical Committee. Mr. Frank and Mr. Longenbaugh responded to questions from the committee about potential measures to control phreatophytes in the South Platte Basin.