Basin NRDs and Irrigation Districts Take Action on Water Imports
On Tuesday August 22, 2006 representatives from the NRDs and irrigation districts in the Republican River Basin discussed transferring water from one river basin to another with in the State. The group made two motions and passed both. The first was to ask the Tri Basin NRD what type of reports and evidence it would like to have when it considering a request to permit a transfer of groundwater. The second was to appoint a committee to delineate what it is the group would like to do.
The committee is made up of Mike Clements, manager of the Lower Republican NRD; Jasper Fanning, manager of the Upper Republican NRD; Mike Delka, manager of the Bostwick Irrigation District.
I get the impression that the idea is to create a detailed plan such as what WaterClaim has already done. Only this time the details will be put together by three water managers. Jasper told the group that he believes, the E65 canal and Spring Creek are the best places to do any transfers. This matches what WaterClaim identified in 2004 and proposed. It is nice to see that Jasper agrees.
Jasper Fanning provided the group with a document showing all of the wells within one mile of the E65 canal and a list of all of the landowners. So a bit of background research has been done.
Over the next few weeks, I expect the committee will get together and decide the details of how a transfer might work. How much water is needed? Should it be groundwater or surface water or a combination of both? Should the water be sourced across a large area or a small area? How much water per acre can be accessed? How much might this project cost? How might it be paid for?
WaterClaim has placed its suggestions on how these questions might be answered on the table. The group will bring its experience to the discussion and perhaps find better answers.
WaterClaim will cooperate with the group and assist it in every way possible. WaterClaim believes that the transfer is the most economical solution for the State and the Basin. It is also the only way that the region is not forced to make major reductions.