Presented to

CCWCD, CSU Cooperative ExtensionPresented to

CCWCD, CSU Cooperative Extension

FACING DRIER REALITIES IN THE SOUTH PLATTE BASIN

FACING DRIER REALITIES IN THE SOUTH PLATTE BASIN

November 30, 2005November 30, 2005

Peter D Binney, P.E.Director, Aurora Water

Aurora, Coloradopbinney@auroragov.org

“Sin agua – no huy vida”“Sin agua – no huy vida”

Population Growth and Increasing Needs For Water

(Developable Water Supplies Are NOT Where the Demand Is Growing)

Population Growth and Increasing Needs For Water

(Developable Water Supplies Are NOT Where the Demand Is Growing)

.

Colorado’s Population GrowthColorado’s Population Growth

0100000020000003000000400000050000006000000700000080000009000000

1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 2040

SWSI – Water Demand ForecastsSWSI – Water Demand Forecasts

39,000 acres

2,600 acresor

2,400 acres

1,300 acresor

23,000 to 72,000 acres

7,900 to 16,000 acres

2,500 to 10,000 acres

No change

60,000 to 100,000 acres

133,000 to 226,000 acres

Potential Changes in Irrigated Acres (2000-2030)Potential Changes in Irrigated Acres (2000-2030)

Population Growth - South Platte Basin

0

1000000

2000000

3000000

4000000

5000000

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Year

Popu

latio

n

WeldLarimerJeffersonDouglasDenverBroomfieldBoulderArapahoeAdams

METR

O AR

EA

METRO COUNTIES - M&I WATER DEMANDS

0100000200000300000400000500000600000700000800000

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Year

Acr

e-fe

et

JeffersonDouglasDenverBroomfieldBoulderArapahoeAdams

+254

,000 A

c-Ft

LARIMER - WELD - M&I WATER DEMANDS

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Year

Acre

-Fee

t

WeldLarimer

+93,4

00 A

c-Ft

Colorado Surface WaterColorado Surface Water

South Platte

Urban Corridor

South Platte Water UsesSouth Platte Water Uses

Irrigation 68%Municipal

22%

Industrial 3%Miscellaneous 7%

Location of Agricultural Water Uses / Cities

1,003,500 Acres Irrigated Lands

2,545,500 Ac-Ft Irrigation Diversions

Droughts Limit The Amount of Water Available to Serve Our CommunitiesDroughts Limit The Amount of Water Available to Serve Our Communities

.

Currently Developed Water Sources and Infrastructure Can be Compromised By Drought

Currently Developed Water Sources and Infrastructure Can be Compromised By Drought

River Basins Have Varying Water Supply Conditions (1981 – 2005)River Basins Have Varying Water Supply Conditions (1981 – 2005)

Colorado River SWSI - 1981-2005

-5.0

-4.0

-3.0

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

Jun-

81

Jun-

83

Jun-

85

Jun-

87

Jun-

89

Jun-

91

Jun-

93

Jun-

95

Jun-

97

Jun-

99

Jun-

01

Jun-

03

Jun-

05

SWSI

South Platte SWSI -1981-2005

-4.0

-3.0

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

Jun-81

Jun-83

Jun-85

Jun-87

Jun-89

Jun-91

Jun-93

Jun-95

Jun-97

Jun-99

Jun-01

Jun-03

Jun-05

SWSI

Colorado River

South Platte River

Communities Must Locate, Develop and Deliver New Sources of Water to

Provide a Reliable Level of Service for Current and Future Residents

and Businesses

Communities Must Locate, Develop and Deliver New Sources of Water to

Provide a Reliable Level of Service for Current and Future Residents

and Businesses.

How Will Cities Acquire Needed Water Supplies?How Will Cities Acquire Needed Water Supplies?

Water ConservationUse Reclaimed Water For Parks / Golf CoursesRecapture Reusable Return FlowsAcquire and Transfer Water From Existing Agricultural Uses:

Lease During DroughtsPurchase and Dry-Up FarmlandsIncrease Agricultural Efficiency/ Transfer SavingsRotational FallowingPurchase and Leaseback for Certain Times

Develop New Sources of Water From Trans-Basin DiversionsBuild Reservoirs and Pipes/ Treatment PlantsAddress Water Quality Issues

Agriculture-Municipal Interface Agriculture-Municipal Interface

OpportunityLeasing

ScheduledClosing

DripIrrigationSystems

Purchase/Lease Back

Efficiency

RotationalFallowing

DroughtLease

Purchase/ Dry Up

Options/Conservation

Easements

CBT Shares Are Being Converted From Agricultural to Municipal UsesCBT Shares Are Being Converted From Agricultural to Municipal Uses

Commodity Pricing for CBT SharesSource: Northern Colorado Big Thompson Share TransactionsCommodity Pricing for CBT SharesSource: Northern Colorado Big Thompson Share Transactions

$14,000 per share

$20,000 / ac-ft2005

Aurora's South Platte ProjectAurora's South Platte Project

Delivery/ Purification FacilitiesDelivery/ Purification Facilities

Cities MUST Cooperatively Work With Areas Where Water Will be DevelopedCities MUST Cooperatively Work With Areas Where Water Will be Developed

The recapture of reusable return flows will affect flow patterns and yields in the South Platte RiverSome farmers will exercise their property rights to use, transfer, lease or periodically fallow historic agricultural water usesCities must pay for water rights, infrastructure and mitigation but the total cost must be absorbed in affordable municipal rate structuresCities must work with rural communities – can effective local/ 1041 regulations shape the future? Can workable relationships be developed for the benefit of both entities?

Aurora’s Successful ProgramsAurora’s Successful Programs

Purchase of Rocky Ford Ditch with re-vegetation, School Payments, Economic DevelopmentLake County Transfer/ Open Space InitiativeHigh Line Canal Interruptible Supply ProgramRocky Ford II Drip Irrigation ProgramLower South Platte Augmentation Water Program/ Integrated OperationsLower South Platte Lease Back program

What is Colorado’s Future?What is Colorado’s Future?