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HomeMy WebLinkAboutC12-082 Colorado River Cooperative Agreement The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement
April 28, 2011
Introduction
The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement is the product of five years of mediated negotiations. The
negotiations were triggered by several events. In 2003, Denver Water initiated the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) process with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to enlarge Gross Reservoir. In 2006, Denver
Water filed a diligence application in federal court regarding some of its water rights under the Blue River
Decree. These filings created the potential for significant litigation and political dispute between Colorado's
East and West Slopes. In 2006, several West Slope entities met with then -Mayor Hickenlooper, who
suggested that resolution of longstanding disputes over water would require the services of a mediator.
John Bickerman began serving as the mediatorforthe negotiations in February 2007.
The proposed agreement goes well beyond these triggering events, however. Its geographic scope is from
the Front Range, across the Continental Divide, to the western state line. It involves 34 parties:
• Denver Water
• Colorado River District
• Grand County
• Summit County
• Eagle County
• Snake River Water District
• Dillon Valley Metro District
• Grand County Water and Sanitation District No. 1
• Winter Park Water and Sanitation District
• Middle Park Water Conservancy District
• Clinton Ditch and Reservoir Company
• Eagle Park Reservoir Company
• Eagle River Water and Sanitation District •
• Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority •
• Grand Valley Water Users Association
• Orchard Mesa Irrigation District
• Ute Water Conservancy District
• Palisade Irrigation District •
• Mesa County Irrigation District
• Grand Valley Irrigation Company
• City of Glenwood Springs
• City of Rifle
• Town of Breckenridge
• Town of Dillon
• Town of Silverthorne
• Town of Fraser •
• Town of Granby
1 This briefing is only a summary of the proposed agreement and does not represent the interpretation of the agreement by any
party.
1
• Vail Resorts
• Vail Summit Resort's Breckenridge Ski Resort
• Vail Summit Resort's Keystone Ski Resort
• Powdr- Copper Mountain
• Winter Park Recreational Association
• Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
• Copper Mountain Consolidated Metropolitan District
Overview
The proposed agreement begins a long -term partnership between Denver Water and the West Slope. The
agreement is really a framework for. numerous actions by the parties to benefit water supply and the
environment on both sides of the Continental Divide. Certain actions must be completed prior to execution
of the agreement. Other provisions in the agreement are effective: (1) upon execution, (2) when the federal
district court approves the parties' stipulations in the Blue River (water) Decree, (3) when the Denver Water
Board accepts all the permits necessary for the construction of the Moffat Project, and (4) when the Moffat
Project becomes operational.
•
Involvement of the State of Colorado and the United States Government
Denver Water and the West Slope parties have been actively engaged with State of Colorado officials and
agencies, and with officials from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, to discuss and resolve issues connected to
the implementation of the agreement. There are five key areas where cooperation by the State of Colorado
is essential.
• Finalize and file the Blue River consent decree, which includes agreement from the State of
Colorado on the delivery of water provided under the agreement to Summit County users.
• Reach agreement with the state on a mechanism to deliver the consumptive use water made
available to Grand County users under the agreement.
• Reach agreement with the state on a mechanism to protect the environmental flows provided
under this agreement.
• Reach agreement with the state and the Bureau of Reclamation on methods to implement the
Shoshone Outage Protocol.
• Finalize and file the Green Mountain Reservoir fill administration resolution.
Benefits to Colorado
The agreement is a multiparty agreement that:
• Moves forward an important project for the enlargement of the existing Gross Reservoir (the Moffat
Project), which will provide additional water and enhance system reliability for Denver and its
service area.
•
• Reinforces the priority of conservation and reuse within Denver Water's service area.
• Provides water for current and future West Slope environmental and consumptive use needs.
• Provides protections for river flows and water quality along the entire reach of the mainstem of the
Colorado River.
2
• Sets the stage for Denver's participation in the WISE (Water Infrastructure Supply Efficiency) project,
which will meet critical needs in the South Metro region.
• Provides that future water projects on the Colorado River will be accomplished through
cooperation, not confrontation.
• Demonstrates how future water agreements can be reached through negotiations where all parties
can be better off with an agreement than without one.
Summary of Provisions
It is helpful to think of the agreement by geographic area. The following summary provides only a high -level
overview of some of the more important provisions. Many other benefits will be created under the
proposed agreement. The following are highlights of some of the key provisions of the agreement, when
fully implemented.
Provisions Related to Denver's Service Area and Use of Water
• Denver Water's existing water rights must be used within its existing combined service area, which
cannot be expanded, with the several exceptions, including:
o Water may be supplied under existing fixed - amount contracts up to 67,927 acre -feet per
ear, plus up to 4 000 acre -feet per year permanent contracts.
y , p p under new
P Y p
o Up to 45,000 acre -feet under existing fixed amount contracts may be transferred to
different recipients outside the combined service area, subject to certain limitations.
Recipients of transferred water must agree to Abstention Provisions and also pay a 12.5
percent surcharge.
o The agreement specifies several circumstances and conditions under which Denver Water
may provide service outside the combined service area on a permanent or temporary basis.
• Denver Water may develop any new water project on the West Slope only with the prior approval
or under good faith consultation with the West Slope, depending on specified circumstances.
• Denver Water will complete construction of its 17,500 acre -foot per year recycled treatment plant
and 30,000 acre -feet of gravel pit storage, scheduled for 2020, and will maximize exchanges.
Denver Water may provide up to 6,400 acre -feet outside the combined service area.
• Denver Water will implement its existing water conservation plan to achieve 29,000 acre -feet of
savings by 2030.
• Denver Water will develop an additional 10,000 acre -feet per year of water supply through
conservation or reuse, anticipated by 2030.
2 Under the Abstention Provisions, recipients of service from Denver Water agree to abstain from seeking additional Colorado River
water. The abstention is permanent above the Gunnison River. The period of abstention from taking water below the Gunnison is
25 years, which could be shortened or lengthened depending on progress on a major project (20,000 acre -feet to the East Slope).
3 The surcharge, or West Slope Charge, is deposited into the West Slope Fund managed by the Colorado River District. The West
Slope Fund may be used only for water supply, water quality and watershed projects. Of the 12.5 percent surcharge, 2.5 percent
will be dedicated to forest restoration activities. Where a 15 percent surcharge is imposed on temporary water deliveries, the
forest restoration requirement does not apply.
3
Provisions Related to Grand County and the Williams Fork and Upper Colorado River Basins
• Denver Water will comply with the mitigation plan approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as
part of the Moffat Project permitting process. The Grand County commitments are in addition to
the mitigation plan and are intended to improve current stream conditions in Grand County.
• Denver Water will pay $11 million for projects such as nutrient loading, aquatic habitat, the
Berthoud Pass sedimentation pond, Windy Gap pumping costs for environmental purposes and
Learning by Doing.
• The Learning by Doing referenced above will include Denver Water managing flows it does not
capture for diversion for environmental purposes as determined by the Learning by Doing group.
• Denver Water will make available 1,000 acre -feet of water each year from its Fraser River Collection
System for environmental purposes in Grand County, at times and locations requested by Grand
County. This water otherwise would have been diverted to the East Slope. This water will be
matched with an additional 1,000 acre -feet from Williams Fork Reservoir under specified conditions
that also will be released at the request of Grand County.
• Denver Water will limit its existing right to reduce bypass flows to times when it has banned
residential lawn watering and to manage spills from its Fraser River Collection System to provide
environmental benefits.
• Denver Water agrees to provide 375 acre -feet of water from its system for use by municipal water
providers and ski areas in Grand County.
• Denver Water will provide 920 acre -feet of Clinton Bypass Water on a year -round basis, subject to
Grand County Water Users providing replacement water.
• Denver Water will allow use of its Fraser River Collection system to convey water as a temporary
source of supply and will explore possibilities to use its system to benefit Grand County. Denver
Water and Grand County also will study how Denver Water's lands in Grand County may be used
for wildlife habitat and public fishing access.
• Denver Water will allow the Grand County Mutual Ditch and Reservoir Company to move water
acquired by means of the purchase of Vail Ditch shares through the Fraser River Collection System.
• Denver Water will not oppose Colorado Water Conservation Board instream flow filings on the
Colorado River below the Blue River and will not oppose a Recreation In- Channel Diversion water
right filing on the Colorado River below Gore Canyon.
• Denver Water will not undertake any future water development activities without the prior
approval of Grand County and the Colorado River District.
Provisions Related to Summit County
• Denver Water will contribute $11 million for projects such as wastewater treatment plant
improvements, environmental enhancements, and local water and sewer projects.
• Denver Water will provide 250 acre -feet of water without charge for use in districts and towns in
Summit County.
• Denver Water will use best efforts to maintain the water level of Dillon Reservoir at or above 9,012
feet in elevation between June 18 and Labor Day.
4
• Denver Water will provide 1,493 acre -feet of water to various Summit County water users and ski
areas, subject to those entities providing adequate replacement water.
• Denver Water agrees not to exercise its existing right to reduce bypass flows from Dillon Reservoir
into the Blue River during droughts to below the amount of inflow to the reservoir unless it has
banned residential lawn watering in its combined service area.
• Denver Water and Summit County ski areas and towns agree to amendments to the existing 1992
Clinton Reservoir Agreement.
• Denver Water will not undertake' any future water development activities without the prior
approval of Summit County and the Colorado,River District.
Provisions Related to Eagle County
In Eagle County, Denver Water will not seek new appropriations of water without the approval of several
Eagle County water users and Eagle County and will not oppose a future interconnect between Clinton
Reservoir and Eagle Park Reservoir.
-
Provisions Related to the Colorado River Outside Grand and Summit Counties
• Denver Water will pay $1.5 million for water supply, water quality or water infrastructure projects
benefiting the Grand Valley.
• Denver Water will pay $500,000 to offset additional operations and maintenance costs for water
treatment plants in Garfield County to address the exercise of drought relaxation of the Shoshone
Call.
• Denver Water will place $1 million into a fund to protect Wild & Scenic outstanding resource
values.
• Denver Water will not undertake any future water development activities without the prior
approval of the resident county and the Colorado River District.
Provisions Related to Water Rights and Permits
• West Slope parties, except Grand County, will withdraw opposition to Denver Water's proposed
Moffat Project.
• The parties will agree to a resolution of the Blue River Decree litigation.
• The West Slope will agree to storage of Blue River water in any facility on the East Slope up to a
limit of 400,000 acre -feet at any one time.
• The West Slope will not object to Denver Water's currently decreed exchanges and operation of
listed undecreed exchanges from Dillon Reservoir. Denver Water will file for exchange decrees with
a priority date of 2010 and will honor Colorado Water Conservation Board instream flows.
• The West Slope agrees that Denver Water may divert under its direct flow right prior to the Green
Mountain fill, under certain conditions.
• The West Slope will support renewals of agreements allowing Denver Water to use water in
Wolford Mountain Reservoir in substitution for water otherwise owed to Green Mountain
Reservoir.
5
• Summit County agrees to extend the 1041 permit for Denver Water's proposed Straight Creek
project, and Denver Water agrees to develop the project only with the prior approval of Summit
County and the Colorado River District.
• Denver Water and the Colorado River District will share the impact of using 1,000 acre -feet of
Repayment Water under a 1992 Wolford Mountain Reservoir agreement. Denver Water agrees to
waive any right to participate in a second enlargement of Wolford. All parties agree to cooperate to
ensure Wolford could be used for replacement water owed to Denver Water under the agreement.
• The West Slope will not contest Denver Water's storage of Williams Fork or Cabin - Meadow Creek
water in Gross and Ralston reservoirs.
• The West Slope will not oppose Denver Water's water court applications to change the location of
Denver Water's Piney River right or for Denver Water's pending Williams Fork diligence cases.
Provisions Relating to Green Mountain Reservoir Administration
• These provisions are being negotiated among the parties and with the state, the federal
government and Northern District.
Provisions Relating to the Shoshone Call
• The parties will implement a "Shoshone Outage Protocol" during an outage of the Shoshone Power
Plant to mitigate the potential adverse effects of the absence of the Shoshone Call. Denver Water,
the Middle Park District and the River District agree to operate their water collection and storage
systems as if the senior Shoshone Power Plant right 'were in priority during specified times when
the plant is not operational. The parties will cooperate to achieve permanent management of the
flows of the Colorado River based on historical conditions and will work with the Bureau of
Reclamation to achieve operation of Green Mountain Reservoir based on the Outage Protocol.
• Denver Water will agree to cooperate in an investigation and potential acquisition of the Shoshone
Power Plant by West Slope parties.
• The parties agree to not oppose the existing 2007 call relaxation agreement between Denver Water
and Xcel Energy and to support renewal of the agreement. If the relaxation is made permanent,
Denver Water will make 500 acre -feet of its increased yield resulting from the relaxation available
as a permanent source of blending water for the WISE (Water Infrastructure Supply Efficiency)
project. Recipients of the blending water would pay a system development charge into a special
fund to be used for permanent preservation of the Shoshone Call flows. The time of the call
relaxation can be extended in defined drought conditions.
• Denver Water will support a Recreational In- Channel Diversion application for the boating park in
Glenwood Springs.
Mutual Commitments
• The parties agree to a "peace pact" on water court diligence applications.
• The parties commit to promote best management practices for water conservation.
• The parties commit to cooperate to develop and implement a strategy to diminish the impact of a
Colorado River Compact Call on Colorado.
6
Colorado River Ranch
Management Plan (Draft)
Background: The Colorado River Ranch (CRR) is a 1,017 acre property located on the Colorado River
12 miles upstream from Dotsero (Property). The Property will be protected through a unique
partnership between Eagle County Open Space (ECOS), Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), The
Conservation Fund (TCF), River Ranch, LLC and Colorado Open Lands (COL). A perpetual conservation
easement will limit development on the Property and separate access agreements between Eagle
County and River Ranch, LLC will provide three permanent, irrevocable public access points. The
purpose of the management plan is to provide an outline of how the Property will be managed in a
manner that protects the Conservation Values as that term is defined in the conservation easement and
provides compatible public recreational access.
All use and management of the Property must be consistent with the terms of the conservation
easement as determined by Colorado Open Lands and access easements between Eagle County and the
River Ranch, LLC.
Agriculture: CRR is a certified organic ranch that raises hay and cattle. The owners have identified
ranching as a desired use, one which is consistent with the conservation easement and will be continued
into the future.
CRR maintains full discretion as to whether to maintain "organic certification" on any part or all of the
ranch.
Irrigation: Water from Red Dirt Creek reaches CRR through a system of gravity fed ditches that
water the portion of the ranch lying between the Colorado River and Colorado River Road. Currently,
the Wilson and Doll Ditch is not functioning due to severe damage to the headgate sustained during a
storm in July 2012. Repair of the ditch is a decision for the current owners of CRR and the Nottingham
Red Dirt property upstream. However, for CRR to maintain its substantial water rights from the
Colorado River, this water must be applied to the Property. Water Court Decree, Division 5, Case No.
98CW134 allows alternative points of diversion for the Wilson Doll Ditch from Nottingham No. 1,
Nottingham Pump No. 2, and the River Ranch Pump. Under the decree CRR can divert the Wilson and
Doll Ditch water by pumping the equivalent amount from the three pumps.
A center pivot system was installed on the portion of the ranch west of the Colorado River which
significantly increases the productivity.
Fences: All new fences will be built using wildlife friendly guidelines as established by Colorado Parks &
Wildlife. These guidelines dictate that the lowest wire be lower than 16 inches from the ground or more
that 42 inches high. Per the conservation easement, no fences will be built using materials that draw
attention to the viewer, such as white fences.
the landowner for brief periods when cattle are being relocated within the Property, but under no
circumstances may be locked.
The owners of Property may travel through the Colorado River Ranch River Access Site at any time for
any reason without charge. However, cattle will only be moved through the area, not penned.
Colorado River Ranch Schoolhouse Site: The Colorado River Ranch Schoolhouse is a historic
structure located up near Colorado River Ranch Road (see Map 1). Under the terms of the easement
agreement, Eagle County has the right, but not the obligation, to build a small parking area and other
improvements permitted in the easement agreement that would provide public access to the
Schoolhouse. Currently, Eagle County does not have plans to develop this site in 2013. Improvements
will likely be developed within five years.
Bull Gulch Access Point: Eagle County also has the right, but not the obligation, under a separate
easement agreement to construct a parking lot at the entrance to the Bull Gulch Wilderness Study Area,
but has no plans to develop this site in 2013. Eagle County will likely develop this site when and if
existing access to the Bull Gulch Wilderness Area changes.
Site Management: Eagle County Open Space, BLM or a third party contractor will routinely check
the site to remove litter, monitor usage, educate users and otherwise ensure a quality experience.
COLORADO RIVER COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
04/28/2011 PROPOSED AGREEMENT
ARTICLE I
Limitations on Denver Water's Water Slimily Obligations
A. Geographic Limit on Service Area. All water available to Denver Water under its
existing absolute and conditional water rights listed in Attachment A ( "Attachment A
Rights ") shall be used within the City and County of Denver and Denver Water's
current Service Area described in Attachment B ( "Service Area "), except as provided
in Article LB. The Service Area shall not be expanded beyond the boundaries
depicted in Attachment B.
B. Limits on Use of Attachment A Water Rights Outside Service Area.
1. Fixed - Amount Contracts. The Attachment A Rights may be used outside the
current Service Area to provide up to 67,927 acre-feet of water under the
existing contracts listed in Attachment C ( "2010 Contracts "). In addition,
Denver Water may enter into contracts to deliver an additional 4,000 acre -feet
of water annually to be used in new permanent contractual arrangement not
listed in Attachment C.
Of the 67,927 acre -feet currently obligated under 2010 Contracts, Denver
Water may transfer up to 45,000 acre -feet from a pre - existing water delivery
obligation under a 2010 Contract to a different recipient under a new
permanent contract ( "Future Contract "), subject to the following limitations.
a. Previously Delivered Water. The amount of water transferred to a
Future Contract recipient must fall within the volume of water
previously delivered to the 2010 Contract holder during a prior
calendar year, and Denver Water's obligation to the 2010 Contract
holder must be reduced by a like amount. Some 2010 Contracts
include an amount of water not previously delivered by Denver Water
( "Unused 2010 Water ") A 2010 Contract holder may not substitute
Unused 2010 Water for transferred water. The 2010 Contract holder
may access the volume of Unused 2010 Water only at a rate equivalent
to growth in demand in the holder's service area after the date of the
transfer.
b. Future Contract Service Area. The service area of any Future Contract
recipient must be located in Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Douglas or
Jefferson County.
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 1
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
•
c. Drought Reductions. All Future Contracts must provide for reductions
in deliveries during such times as Denver Water imposes mandatory
water use restrictions as part of a drought response program.
d. Reuse Under Future Contracts. If the 2010 Contract did not expressly
• grant to the recipient of the water the right of reuse or successive use,
then the Future Contract may grant the right of reuse and successive
use of the transferred water only if such reuse is subject to the
provisions of Article LB.2.e and Article II. Nothing in this paragraph
shall prevent a recipient of a Future Contract from making an initial
fully consumptive use of the transferred water that will not generate
effluent or return flows.
e. Recycle Water Contracts. Any water transferred from one of the
Recycle Water contracts Iisted on Attachment C shall retain recycled
water as the source of water delivered under the Future Contract.
f. Payment of West Slope Charge. As a condition of receiving water
under a Future Contract, any Future Contract holder shall enter into a
West Slope Charge Agreement in substantially the form of Attachment
D, and shall pay a West Slope Charge of 12.5 %.
g. Prohibition on Seeking West Slope Supplies. Any recipient of water
under a Future Contract must agree to comply with the Abstention
• Provisions.
2. Other Contractual Water Supply Obligations. Some of Denver Water's supply
• obligations to entities or areas outside the Service Area present unique
circumstances or opportunities and are not included within the volumetric limit
established in Article I.B.1. Denver Water may use the Attachment A Rights
outside the Service Area to provide water under the following circumstances:
a. Obligations to Littleton under Littleton's Total Service Distributor
Contract dated May.12; 1970. Denver Water agrees to use its best
efforts to limit the amount of water supply necessary to comply with
the provisions of paragraph 13 of the 1970 Littleton Contract.
b. Water to be provided to Public Service Company and to West Slope
entities in the event of a relaxation of the Shoshone Call under the
provisions of the 2007 Shoshone Agreement or the provisions of
Article VI of this Agreement.
c. Use of Denver Water's water rights on the West Slope: (1) for
beneficial use by the West Slope entities; or (2) to meet regulatory
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 2
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
obligations required for Denver Water's operations or projects; or (3)
for other purposes specifically authorized under this Agreement.
d. Water delivered from the potable water distribution system at Denver
International Airport that would otherwise need to be discharged from
the system to maintain the chlorine residual and avoid nitrification
within the potable water system.
e. Reusable return flows in excess of Denver Water's obligations under
Article II or not committed to a 2010 Contract may be used in Joint Use
Projects, subject to the following limitations in this subsection. The
use of reusable return flows under this section does not in any way
diminish Denver Water's obligations under Article H. As a condition
of such use, East Slope lessees or purchasers of Denver Water's
reusable return flow for use outside the Service Area:
i. Shall enter into a West Slope Charge Agreement in substantially the
form of Attachment D, and shall pay a West Slope Charge of 12.5 %.
ii. Must comply with the Abstention Provisions.
iii. Will maximize using best efforts the reuse or successive use of
reusable water available to them.
iv. Will adopt and implement a conservation plan that would achieve
results similar or proportionately the same as Denver Water's.
3. Deliveries of Water on a Temporary Basis. Denver Water may use the Attachment A
Rights to deliver water on a temporary basis outside the Service Area, as limited by
the following provisions.
a. For spot sales, subject to the following limitations:
i. Definition. The definition of a spot sale for purposes of this
agreement is a lease of water available to Denver Water on a
sporadic basis as a result of temporary hydrologic conditions or
operational constraints, which is delivered to the recipient over
a period no longer than 14 consecutive days.
ii. Holiday. Restrictions: Spot sales of Blue River water will not be
made for use during the Memorial Day, Fourth of July and
Labor Day weekends. For purposes of this paragraph 11,
Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends means Friday,
Saturday, Sunday and Monday of that holiday. Fourth of July
weekend means (1) if the holiday falls on a Thursday then the
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 3
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
weekend is Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; (2) if the
holiday falls on either Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday,
then the weekend is Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday; (3)
if the holiday falls on a Tuesday then the weekend is Saturday,
Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday; and (4) if the holiday falls on a
• Wednesday, then the weekend is only on Wednesday.
iii. •Reservoir Level Restrictions: Spot sales of Blue River water
will be made only when: (1) the Dillon Reservoir lake level is
projected to be at or above the Frisco Marina elevation from
June 18 to Labor Day weekend, and will not be reduced below
that elevation as a result of the spot sales. For purposes of this
paragraph 11, the Frisco Marina elevation means the elevation
at which the Frisco Marina can be fully operational. At the time
of execution of this agreement, the Signatories agree that the
Frisco Marina elevation is 9012. However, Summit County and
Denver Water may later agree that a lower elevation has
become suitable as the result of physical changes to the Marina
or the Reservoir.
If Denver Water makes a spot sale of Blue River water during
the runoff season prior to June 18 based on projections of
reservoir level, and the reservoir level fails to reach the Frisco
Marina elevation by June 18 or falls below that elevation prior
to Labor Day, then Denver Water will forfeit the revenue
received from the spot sale and deposit an equivalent amount
into the West Slope Fund for water supply and water quality
projects.
iv. Dillon Outflow Restrictions. Spot sales of Blue River water
will not be made:
a) From Memorial Day weekend to the end of July, if outflow
from Dillon Reservoir is less than 300 cfs during any diversion
and delivery of spot sale water; or
b) At other times of the year, if outflow from Dillon Reservoir is
less than 100 cfs during any diversion and delivery of spot sale
water.
v. Limit on Temporary Water Deliveries. The total combined
- volume of all spot sales and temporary leases of water resulting
from the Attachment A Rights will not exceed a three -year
• running average of 7,300 acre feet, with an annual maximum of
12,300 acre -feet in a given year.
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 4
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
vi. Payment by Recipients. Purchasers of spot sale water shall
enter into a West Slope Charge Agreement in substantially the
form of Attachment D, and shall pay a West Slope Charge of
15 %.
vii. Shoshone Call Restriction. Spot sales will not be made when
the senior Shoshone call is subject to relaxation under the
provisions of the 2007 Shoshone Agreement or the provisions
of Article VI.E of this Agreement.
•
b. For temporary leases, subject to the following limitations:
i. The definition of temporary leases for purposes of this
agreement is a lease of water for a duration not to exceed five
consecutive years.
ii. Any lessee would be limited to no more than five years of water
delivery in any ten year period under one or more temporary
leases.
iii. The total volume of spot sales and temporary leases of water
from west slope sources will not exceed 3,300 acre -feet in any
given year.
iv. The total combined volume of all spot sales and temporary
leases of water resulting from the Attachment A Rights will be
limited as described in paragraph I(B)(3)(v).
v. Lessees shall enter into a West Slope Charge Agreement in
substantially the form of Attachment D, and shall pay a West
Slope Charge of 15 %.
vi. All temporary leases must provide for reductions in deliveries
during such times as Denver Water imposes mandatory water
use restrictions as part of a drought response program.
C. Other Water Rights.
1. Joint Use Projects. Denver Water may use its existing East Slope water rights
listed in Attachment E in Joint Use Projects on the Front Range, so long as such
use of the water rights does not result in a decrease in the supply of water
available to Denver Water under the Attachment A Rights or in an increase in
diversions of water by participants in the Joint Project, including Denver Water,
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances,
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
•
from the West Slope to the East Slope. Participants in these projects must agree
to comply with the Abstention Provisions.
2. New East Slope Water Rights. Denver Water may use outside the Service Area
any water made available: (a) as a result of East Slope water rights appropriated
or acquired after execution of this Agreement or (b) by means of contractual
arrangements with East Slope entities entered into after execution of this
Agreement involving East Slope water rights. Such use of the water shall not
result in a decrease in the supply of water available to Denver Water under the
Attachment A Rights, or in an increase in diversions of water by participants in
the project, including Denver Water, from the West Slope to the East Slope.
3 . West Slope Water Rights. After the Effective Date of this Agreement, Denver
Water will not seek to: (a) develop any of its Division 5 water rights listed in
Attachment E; or (b) create any new depletion, not caused by the exercise of
the Division 5 water rights listed in Attachment A, from the Colorado River
and its tributaries, for diversion to the East Slope; or (c) acquire any water right
on the West Slope that would increase the yield Denver Water currently
calculates based on the full use of the Division 5 water rights listed in
Attachment A, without the prior approval of the River District and the County
Commissioners for each county in which a new facility would be Located or in
which a new water right would be exercised.
Denver Water will not seek to appropriate or acquire any other water right on
the West Slope, without first consulting in good faith with potentially affected
West Slope Signatories in order to identify and attempt to mitigate any
potential adverse effect on West Slope interests, subject to the other provisions
of this Agreement. The West Slope Signatories reserve the right to oppose any
such development, appropriation or acquisition of water rights in water court,
permit proceedings, or other forums.
•
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 6
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
ARTICLE II
Denver Water's Conservation and Reuse Commitments
A. Reuse of Blue River Water. Denver agrees to reuse its Blue River water and other
lawfully available reusable water through exchanges into its South Platte diversion
and storage facilities and through its recycled water treatment plant that provides
water for nonpotable purposes. For use within the Service Area and to provide up to
6,400 acre -feet of recycled water outside the Service Area under the Recycle Water
contracts listed in Attachment C or Future Contracts resulting from the transfer of
those contracts pursuant to Article I.B.1, Denver Water will fully construct its
recycled water system with the capacity to provide 17,500 acre -feet annually and
will maximize its exchanges within legal and water availability constraints.' To
achieve this level of reuse, Denver Water will complete construction of at least
30,000 acre -feet of gravel pit storage or other functionally equivalent storage. The •
fully constructed recycled water plant is scheduled to be operational in 2020. The
30,000 acre -feet of gravel pit storage is also anticipated to be completed in 2020.
However, the timing of development of gravel pit storage is directly related, in part,
to the need for aggregate for construction purposes in the metro area, and is not
within Denver Water's control. Denver Water commits to construct sufficient
infrastructure to achieve the volumes listed in this paragraph subject to the
uncertainties of timing described in this paragraph.
B. Conservation Plan. Denver Water's 1996 IRP predicted that 29,000 acre -feet of
water could be saved through active conservation efforts by 2045. In 2006, the
Denver Water Board mandated an accelerated conservation program to accomplish
that level of savings by the end of 2016. Denver Water agrees to continue to
implement its existing conservation program described in Attachment F to achieve
•
the savings of 29,000 acre -feet contemplated by the 1996 IRP, in addition to natural
replacement, consistent with its goal of achieving the targeted savings by the end of
2016. (It is often not possible to measure precisely the volume of water saved as a
result of a specific action, e.g., requiring soil amendment, but Denver will implement
the conservation measures necessary to result in the volume of savings described in
F The volume of water that can be reused is determined by legal, regulatory and hydrologic conditions that vary
significantly from year to year and over time, and may be fundamentally different in the future. Over the past 20 years
with an annual average demand of 285,000 acre -feet, Denver Water's reuse by exchange and replacement has averaged
16,300 acre -feet per year, with a maximum of 29,900 acre -feet and a minimum of 5,800 acre -feet. With regard to future
exchanges, Denver Water's computer simulation model predicts that, with an annual average demand of 345,000 acre -
feet and completion of the storage described in this section II(A), the annual average for exchanges and replacement
will be 38,000 acre -feet. These modeled predictions are based on historic hydrology, past administrative practices and
numerous operational assumptions, and consequently may not be construed as any sort of mandated or targeted
operational requirement.
2 If Denver Water's water rights cannot be exercised as anticipated to operate exchanges, making a portion of the
proposed 30,000 acre -feet of storage not useful in maximizing Denver Water's exchanges, then Denver Water will
notify the West Slope Signatories and identify the functionally equivalent storage, other infrastructure, or other means
that it proposes to utilize to maximize its exchanges and the parties shall discuss in good faith whether to modify the
provisions ofTh s isle 11.A.
Ech signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 7
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
this paragraph.) Denver Water will inform the West Slope Signatories in an annual
progress report if it decides to substitute a different conservation measure than the
ones listed in Attachment F. Once Denver Water determines the conservation goal
has been met, it will retain a reputable and qualified third party to confirm that the
methodology used to quantify savings was reasonable. If the third party determines
the methodology was not reasonable, Denver Water will correct the identified
defects in the methodology, and if necessary, undertake additional conservation
measures to achieve the goal.
C. Commitment to Additional Efforts. In addition to taking actions necessary to
achieve the results described in Sections II(A) and II(B) above, Denver Water agrees
to develop, for use within the Service Area and to satisfy the obligations listed in
Section I(B), an additional 10,000 acre -feet on an average annual basis through
reuse, including use of reusable sources of water for augmentation, and/or
conservation measures not described in Sections II(A) and II(B). The development
of the additional 10,000 acre -feet will commence no later than the completion of the
efforts described in Sections II(A) and II(B), and are anticipated to be completed by
the end of calendar year 2030. Once Denver Water determines the additional 10,000
acre -feet has been attained, it will retain a reputable and qualified third party to
confirm that the methodology used to quantify the attainment was reasonable. If the
third party determines the methodology was not reasonable, Denver Water will
correct the identified defects in the methodology, and if necessary, undertake
additional reuse or conservation measures to achieve the goal.
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 8
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
ARTICLE III
Denver Water's Other Commitments
A. General
1. Denver Water agrees to make a good faith effort to identify which of its West
Slope conditional water rights might be needed and to abandon those
conditional water rights that it deems are not needed.
2. As used in this Article III, "Resolution of Blue River Decree Issues" means
the entry of final judgments and decrees no longer subject to appeals which
make absolute 654 cfs in 06CW255, Water Division 5, and in 49 -cv -2782,
U.S. District Court, and 141,712 acre -feet in 03CW039, Water Division 5, in
accord with the Amended Application to Make Absolute, filed with the court
on February 16, 2006.
3. Use of Denver Water's Water Rights on West Slope.
•
a. Denver will be responsible for providing substitution water and power
interference charges to Green Mountain Reservoir and replacement
water to other senior downstream water rights as necessary to ensure
that West Slope recipients of the water provided by Denver Water .
under this Article III may use the water as provided in this
Agreement.
b. The signatories to this Agreement will cooperate to obtain such court
decrees and approvals as are necessary to ensure that Denver's water
that is made available to West Slope users under this Agreement, the
1985 Summit Agreement and the 1992 Clinton Agreement may be
used on the West Slope for all uses, including but not limited to, fully
consumptive uses, reuse and successive uses.
4. Replacement Water. Certain provisions of this Article III require recipients
of water deliveries from Denver Water to make available to Denver Water
"Replacement Water." Replacement Water may be made available to Denver
Water from Green Mountain Reservoir, Wolford Mountain Reservoir, West
Slope supplies of Windy Gap Project water, water made available to the West
Slope from relaxation of the Shoshone Call pursuant to the 2007 Shoshone
Agreement or the provisions of Article VLE, water stored in Old Dillon
Reservoir, water made available to West Slope water users pursuant to the
2003 Colorado Springs Substitution Agreement including return flows of
such water, decreed consumptive use credits and reusable return flows, water
diverted from Straight Creek into Dillon Reservoir by Summit County users,
or any other substitution source reasonably acceptable to the Bureau of
Reclamation and the Signatories. Where Replacement Water is required,
Denver Water's delivery of water is contingent upon the Replacement Water
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 9
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
•
being on hand and physically and legally available for Denver Water's use
for substitution purposes and will be provided to Denver Water for each acre.
foot of water delivered.
5. Escalation. The amounts ofmoney that Denver Water is committed to pay
under this Article III will be subject to escalation beginning on the fourth
anniversary of the Effective Date of this Agreement, based on changes in the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers ( "CPI -U ") for the Denver -
Boulder- Greeley Metropolitan Area.
B. Summit County -- Blue River
1. Payment by Denver Water. $11 million will be paid by Denver Water,
subject to the terms set forth below.
2. Waste Water Treatment Plant Fund, $1 million of the $11 million shall be
deposited into an interest - bearing fund to offset the impacts of lower Dillon
Reservoir levels or reduced outflows from Dillon Dam on permitted
wastewater dischargers in Summit County.
3. Environmental Enhancement Fund. $1 million of the $11 million shall be
deposited into an interest - bearing fund to be used as 50% matching funds for
Environmental Enhancement projects in Summit County. The Environmental
Enhancement projects shall be selected by a committee composed of one
representative from each of the five entities listed in Article III.B.4 below. If
these entities cannot unanimously agree on a project or projects, then each
entity will be entitled to use one -fifth of the funds for a 50% match for an
Environmental Enhancement project selected by that entity.
4. Payments for Projects in Summit County. $9 million of the $11 million will
be distributed in five equal shares to the following entities to offset the costs
of the projects listed in Attachment G:
• Town of Dillon/Joint Sewer Authority
• Town of Silverthorne /Joint Sewer Authority
• Town of Frisco/Frisco Sanitation District
• Town of Breckenridge
• Summit County /other water districts listed in Attachment G
5. Reallocation of Funds. Denver Water will not object to the reallocation of
the $9 million as may be agreed by these entities, and these entities will
determine the allocation of these funds for the projects described in
Attachment G without restrictions imposed by Denver Water. Funds can be
used to reimburse the sponsoring entity for project costs incurred before the
finndis -to be provided by Denver Water under Article IILB.6 below.
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 10
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
6. Timing of Payments. The schedule for payment of the $11 million is as
follows:
a. $4.5 million of the $9 million described in Article III.B.4 above
within one year of Resolution of Blue River Decree issues.
b. $4.5 million of the $9 million described in Article III.B.4 above
within six months upon Issuance and Acceptance by Denver Water of
Permits Necessary for the Moffat Project.
c. The $1 million for Environmental Enhancements under Article III.B.3
will be deposited into the interest - bearing fund at the time of
execution of the Agreement. These funds would be immediately
available as matching funds whenever an Environmental
Enhancement project is selected pursuant to Article IILB.3.
d. The $1 million dedicated to assisting wastewater treatment plants
under Article I1T.B.2 will be deposited into the interest - bearing fund at
the time of execution of this Agreement. Those funds will be
available as needed for the purposes described in Article IILB.2.
7. 250 Acre Feet of Dillon Storage Water. Upon Resolution of Blue River
Decree Issues, Denver Water will provide an additional 250 feet per year of
water from Dillon Reservoir with a yield as reliable as the yield available to
Denver Water at Dillon Reservoir. This water will be allocated as follows:
Town of Silverthorne — 60 acre feet
Summit County 56 acre feet
Snake River Water District = 45 acre feet
Town of Dillon = 45 acre feet
Copper Mt. Metro District = 29 acre feet
Dillon Valley Metro District = 15 acre feet
There shall be no Replacement Water or other compensation for this Dillon
storage water.
8. Montezuma Shaft.
a. Denver Water is willing to consider, on a case -by -case basis, use of
the Montezuma Shaft by the Snake River Water District, East Dillon
Water District and Summit County Government on a space available
basis when the Roberts Tunnel is operating. Any such future use will
be subject to written acknowledgement by all water users that the
supply is interruptible and will be subject to Denver Water's ability,
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 11
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
in its sole discretion, to take the Roberts Tunnel out of service for
maintenance, inspection and operational needs.
b. Any water resulting from use of the Montezuma Shaft as described in
the preceding paragraph will come out of the users" allocations of
water under the 1985 Summit Agreement, the 1992 Clinton
Agreement or this Agreement.
9. Old Dillon Reservoir. Denver Water will not object to the construction and
operation of Old Dillon Reservoir in accordance with permits issued by the
U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Nothing herein shall
be construed as a subordination to the operation of this project of any of
Denver Water's decreed water rights and exchanges. Upon execution of the
agreement between Denver Water and Old Dillon Reservoir Water Authority,
Denver Water will withdraw its statements of opposition to all pending Old
Dillon Reservoir water court applications by Summit County and Towns of
Dillon and Silverthome.
10. Dillon Reservoir Levels. Denver Water agrees to use its best efforts to
maintain the water level of Dillon Reservoir for recreational and aesthetic
purposes at or above 9012 feet in elevation, above mean sea level, from June
18 to Labor Day of each year. This is a target elevation that may not be
achieved, depending upon various factors, and is subject to Denver Water's
water supply obligations. Under the Blue River Decree, Denver Water's
diversions are limited to municipal purposes only. Denver Water will
continue to comply with the Blue River Decree and to operate the Roberts
Tunnel to meet its water supply obligations and not solely for recreational or
hydropower purposes.
1 1 . Town of Frisco. Denver Water has allowed the Town of Frisco to use its
Future Dillon Water under the 1985 Sumtnit Agreement as a'source of
augmentation supply for snowmaking at its winter sports area pursuant to the
Future Dillon Water Agreement dated November 18, 2009 between Denver
Water and Frisco. Denver Water and Frisco agree to participate in a joint
study on the amount and timing of snowmaking return flows from the winter
sports area and to cooperate in maximizing the amount of snowmaking return
flows in any Water Court proceeding.
12. Additional Exchanges. Denver Water will allow additional exchanges
through Dillon Reservoir for the benefit of Summit County users, so long as
Denver Water's firm yield is kept whole, such exchanges do not interfere
with Denver Water's operations, and Denver Water is afforded an
opportunity to protect its interests in any legal or administrative proceeding.
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 12
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
13. Temporary Storage. At its sole discretion, Denver Water will allow Summit
County entities to temporarily store additional water in Dillon Reservoir on a
space available basis.
14. Additional 1493 Acre Feet.
a. Upon resolution of Blue River Decree issues, Denver Water will
provide to the entities listed below 1493 acre feet per year from
Dillon Reservoir with a yield as reliable as the yield available to
Denver Water at Dillon Reservoir. This water shall be made available
directly in Dillon Reservoir each year or, at the option of an
individual recipient, the portion of this water to which the recipient is
entitled shall be provided in Clinton Gulch Reservoir (the Clinton
Bookover Water ") in lieu of an equal amount of water that would be
available to such recipient in Dillon Reservoir, by operating Denver
Water's Blue River Diversion Project water rights to allow storage of
the Clinton Bookover Water in Clinton Reservoir. [In the event
Denver Water does not have an account balance in Clinton Gulch
Reservoir pursuant to the terms of the 1992 Clinton Agreement, the
Clinton Bookover Water shall be booked over to the recipient from
water in storage in Clinton Gulch Reservoir, pursuant to separate
operating procedures to be agreed upon by Denver Water and the
Reservoir Company. In the event Denver Water has an account
balance in Clinton Reservoir pursuant to the terms of the 1992 Clinton
Agreement, the Clinton Bookover Water shall be booked over to that
recipient from Denver Water's account in Clinton Gulch Reservoir.
Any Clinton Bookover Water may not be carried over in Clinton
Gulch Reservoir from year to year. Such water will be allocated as
follows:
Vail Summit Resorts (Keystone) = 302 acre feet (1)
Unallocated future supply pool = 175 acre feet (2)
Copper Mountain Resort = 142 acre feet (1)
Town of Silverthorne = 140 acre feet
- Summit County = 134 acre feet
- Vail Summit Resorts (Breckenridge) =.126 acre feet (1)
Town of Breckenridge = 108 acre feet (3)
Town of Dillon = 105 acre feet
- Snake River Water District = 105 acre feet
- Copper Mountain Metropolitan District = 69 acre feet
- Arapahoe Basin Ski Area = 52 acre feet (1)
- DiIlon Valley Metro District = 35 acre feet
'This water may be used for snowmaking purposes and is entitled to a
snowmaking ratio of not more than 5 to 1 (or such other ratio based on the
amount of credited snowmaking return flows established by subsequent
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 1.3
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
decrees.) Denver Water and each ski area agree to participate in joint studies
on the amount and timing of snowmaking return flows from each ski resort
using the foregoing water, and to cooperate in maximizing the amount of
snowmaking return flows in any Water Court proceeding. The combined
volume of water for snowmaking amounts under this Article III, excluding
• snowmaking by the Town of Frisco under Article III.B.11, and the 1992
Clinton Agreement shall not exceed the 6000 acre feet limit on snowmaking
water contained in the 1992 Clinton Agreement.
2 The unallocated pool will be administered by a board consisting of one
representative from the Towns of Breckenridge, Dillon, Frisco and
Silverthorne and the Summit County Commissioners
3 A portion of this water is entitled to the snowmaking ratio described in note
1 above. Denver Water and the ski area agree to participate in a joint study on
the amount and timing of snowmaking return flows from the ski resort, and to
cooperate in maximizing the amount of snowmaking return flows in any
Water Court proceeding. The combined volume of water for snowmaking
amounts under this Article III, excluding snowmaking by the Town of Frisco
under Article III.B.11, and the 1992 Clinton Agreement shall not exceed the
6000 acre feet limit on snowmaking water contained in the 1992 Clinton
Agreement.
b. The recipients of this water shall provide to Denver Water
Replacement Water for each acre foot of the yield water. The ratio
shall be 1 acre foot of Replacement Water for each acre foot of water
delivered above or into Dillon Reservoir and 1.4 acre feet of
Replacement Water for each acre -foot made available below Dillon
Reservoir.
c. The Summit County users shall be responsible for accounting for the
use of all water provided by Denver Water under this Agreement.
This accounting will be coordinated by a single . engineering firm with
accounting under the 1985 Summit Agreement and the 1992 Clinton
Agreement.
15. Place of Use. The place of use of any of the water provided under this
Article 111.13 will be a matter of internal agreement among Summit County
water users and will not be limited by Denver Water, provided that any water
booked over to Denver Water under the 1992 Clinton Agreement will be
retained in Clinton Reservoir.
16. Dillon Bypass Flows. Denver Water's release of water from Dillon
Reservoir is subject to the terms of its 1966 right -of -way from the
Department of Interior for Dillon Reservoir. Upon resolution of Blue River
Decree issues, Denver Water agrees: (1) to waive its right to reduce releases
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 14
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
under section 2 (C) of the 1966 right -of -way; and (2) to add the following
new limitation upon its ability to reduce releases in addition to the conditions
described in the right of way: Denver Water will not reduce releases below
those required by section 2 (A) of the right of way unless an emergency
declaration banning residential lawn watering during the irrigation season is
in force within its Service Area. Nothing herein shall alter or amend •
Denver's ability to reduce bypasses under paragraph 2(A) of the right of way
during an emergency or during temporary periods of time involving •
maintenance or repairs on the water facilities involved. Nothing herein shall
alter or amend any other obligation of Denver Water with respect to releases
from Dillon Reservoir, including, without limitation, the terms of the Record
of Decision for the Wolford Mountain (Muddy Creek) Reservoir; the
Memorandum of Agreement among the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation,
Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Colorado River Water
Conservation District, and Denver Water dated December 30, 1991,
regarding substitutions from Wolford Mountain Reservoir (MOA No. 2 -AG-
60- 01550); the decree in Case No. 91CW252, Water Division No. 5 (also
entered in Consolidated Case Nos. 2782, 5016, and 5017, U.S. District Court,
District of Colorado); and the 1992 Clinton Agreement.
17. Silverthorne's Dillon Storage Water. Upon resolution of Blue River Decree
issues, Denver Water and Summit County will amend the 1985 Summit •
Agreement to eliminate the current restrictions on the use of the 300 acre feet
of Dillon Storage Water made available to the Town of Silverthorne. A form
of the revisions to the 1985 Summit Agreement to accomplish this result is
attached as Attachment H. The Silverthome RICD will not be used to
prevent or otherwise limit the exchange or substitution of any replacement or
exchange water into Dillon Reservoir under this Agreement, the 1985
Summit Agreement or the 1992 Clinton Agreement.
18. Colorado Springs Substitution Agreement. Denver Water will agree to
support extension of the Colorado Springs substitution agreement adjudicated
in Case No. 03CW320, Water Division 5, as long as it is in substantially the
same form as the present agreement.
C. Clinton Reservoir Agreements.
• 1. Upon the execution of this Agreement, the 1992 Clinton Agreement shall be
amended to add a new whereas clause after the second whereas clause to read
as follows:
Whereas, by decree of the District Court in and for Water Division No. 5,
State of Colorado, in Case No. 98CW57, Clinton Reservoir was granted a
Use Enlargement and Second Filling in the amount of 4,250 acre feet for
domestic, nnunicipal, industrial, snowmaking, recreation, fish and wildlife
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 15
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
propagation and augmentation purposes, both on the eastern and western
slopes of Colorado, and an application is pending in Case No. 06CW252 for
Clinton Gulch Reservoir 1st Enlargement and Refill Right for an additional
210 acre feet. All references to Clinton Reservoir herein collectively refer to
the storage rights decreed in Case Nos. W -2559, 98CW57 and 06CW252;
2. Upon the execution of this Agreement, paragraph 1(b) of the 1992 Clinton
Agreement shall be amended to read as follows:
(b) Clinton Reservoir will retain for the uses set forth in paragraph 1(c)
below any water stored in an accounting year if an allowable fill
occurs. An allowable fill occurs each year except: (i) when Green
Mountain Reservoir does not fill under its own right and the Water
Board is required to provide substitution water to Green Mountain
Reservoir in order to retain water diverted at Dillon Reservoir; or (ii)
when the contents of Dillon Reservoir are less than 100,000 acre feet
on August 1 for reasons other than the Water Board's maintenance or
repair of its Dillon Reservoir facilities and the total combined
contents of the Water Board's Dillon, Gross, Cheesman, Eleven Mile
and Antero Reservoirs are less than 51% of their total usable capacity
on August 1. Subject to the provisions of Paragraph 9 below, if an
allowable fill does not occur in a given accounting year, the water
stored in Clinton Reservoir during that accounting year will be
credited to the Water Board's account and retained in Clinton
Reservoir until the contents of Dillon Reservoir as measured above
the invert of the west portal of the Roberts Tunnel are 100,000 acre
feet or less, in which event the water shall be released from Clinton
Reservoir to Dillon Reservoir when requested by the Water Board, or
until an allowable fill occurs, whereupon the Water Board's account
balance of water stored in Clinton Reservoir will be reset to zero. The
release of the Water Board's water stored in Clinton Reservoir shall
be scheduled in such a manner as to meet the Water Board's needs in
a timely manner and also to avoid the erosion of the Clinton Canal.
3. Clinton Flood Control Exchanges. At its sole discretion, Denver Water will
allow the Clinton Ditch & Reservoir Company to temporarily store Clinton
Reservoir water released from storage for flood control purposes in Dillon
Reservoir, limited to a space available basis, and to use the stored water as an
exchange supply, pursuant to operating procedures to be agreed upon at the
time of the proposed exchange.
4. Clinton Reservoir Dead Storage Pool. Upon execution of this Agreement,
Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch & Reservoir Company will enter into the
Interim Agreement regarding the Clinton Reservoir dead storage pool
attached hereto as Attachment I. Upon Resolution of Blue River Decree
Issues, Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch & Reservoir Company will enter
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 16
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is -
subject to minor wording changes.
into the permanent Agreement regarding the Clinton Reservoir dead storage
pool attached hereto as Attachment J. The interim agreement will renew on a
year -to -year basis so long as the Signatories are still engaged in efforts to
achieve Resolution of Blue River Decree Issues.
5. Denver Water Opposition. Upon the execution of this Agreement, Denver
Water will consent to the decree in Water Division No. 5 Case No. 06CW252
attached hereto as Attachment K for a total reservoir capacity of 4460 acre
feet which includes a dead storage pool of 801 acre feet.
6. Spillway Enlargement Water. Upon Resolution of Blue River Decree Issues,
Denver Water and the Clinton Ditch & Reservoir Company will modify their
existing 1992 Clinton Agreement to add the spillway enlargement water (up
to a maximum of 500 acre feet). The water from the total reservoir capacity,
including the dead storage pool and spillway enlargement, will be allocated
to existing shareholders of the Clinton Ditch & Reservoir Company on a pro
rata basis as either fourth year supply, or one -third of that amount will be so
allocated as an increase in the "Reservoir Yield" of Clinton Reservoir, as that
•
term is-defined in the1992 Clinton Agreement.
7. Upon the execution of this Agreement, paragraph 10(a) of the 1992 Clinton
. Agreement shall be amended to read as follows:
(a) Whenever water cannot be diverted from the Snake River or its
tributaries because of decreed instream flows, or the operation of the instream
flow memorandum of agreement between Keystone Resorts Management,
Inc. ( "Keystone ") and the Department of Natural Resources, or the water
quality of the Snake River, Keystone may pump up to 1500 acre feet of water
from September 1 of each year to March 31 of the following year from the
Montezuma Shaft of the Roberts Tunnel, subject to the provisions of this
paragraph.
D. Eagle County.
1. Any development and use of Wolcott Reservoir shall be in compliance with
the terms of the settlement agreement between Denver Water and the Eagle
River Water & Sanitation District and Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority
and the subsequent decrees in Water Division No. 5 Case Nos. 02CW125 and
07CW126.
2. Denver Water will not seek any new appropriation of water in the
Eagle River basin or pursue or participate in any acquisition of water
rights or any project that would result in any new depletion from the
Eagle River basin without the prior approval of the Eagle County
Commissioners, the River District, the Eagle Park Reservoir
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 17
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
•
Company, the Eagle River Water & Sanitation District, and the Upper
Eagle Regional Water Authority.
In addition, the Abstention Provisions applied in Article I of this
. Agreement provide that any entity receiving water from Denver
Water under any Future Contract or any contract for Reusable Return
Flows will not seek any new appropriation of water, or pursue or
participate in any project that would result in any new depletion from
the Eagle River basin.
3. Denver Water will not oppose any future interconnect between Clinton and
Eagle Park Reservoirs, provided that the water in Clinton Reservoir that has
been booked over to Denver Water pursuant to the terms of the 1992 Clinton
Agreement remains in Clinton Reservoir.
4. Upon execution of this Agreement, Denver Water will withdraw its pending
motion and statement of opposition in Water Division No. 5 Case No.
02C W403.
E. Grand County and Fraser, Williams Fork and Upper Colorado River Basins
•
1. General Provisions for Article III.E.
a. Relationship to Moffat Project Permitting Process. Denver Water has applied
for a permit for the Moffat Project from the Corps of Engineers ( "COE ")
under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The Moffat Project involves
enlargement of Gross Reservoir located in Boulder County and the diversion
of additional water from the Upper Colorado, Williams Fork and Fraser River
watersheds in Grand County. Grand County is a consulting agency in that
permitting process and has submitted comments to COE that are a part of the
regulatory record. As part of the permitting process, the COE will approve a
Mitigation Plan designed to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any new impacts to
the stream environment that might be caused by the Moffat Project.
i. Mitigation. The provisions of this Article III.E are not intended to
define and do not substitute for the Mitigation Plan that will be
required by COE. Denver Water will comply with the Mitigation
Plan approved by COE in addition to fulfilling the commitments
contained in this Article III.E. The funds committed by Denver Water
in Articles III.E.2, E.3 and E.4 are subject to proportional reduction if
the Mitigation Plan required in the permitting process mandates funds
for the purposes described in those sections.
ii. Improvements. Denver Water's commitments in sections E.5 through
E.24 include several measures designed to improve current stream
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 18
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
conditions ( "Improvements ") and do not represent mitigation for the
Moffat Project. The Signatories agree that they shall not represent
that the Improvements are designed or intended to avoid, minimize, or
mitigate any impacts associated with the Moffat Project..
b. Water Rights Issues. The Signatories to this Agreement will cooperate to
implement such legal mechanisms and to obtain such administrative and
judicial approvals as Denver Water, Grand County, the River District, and
Middle Park agree are necessary to ensure that the water provided under this
Article IILE will be physically and legally available for the intended purposes
• of protecting and enhancing stream flows in the Fraser, Williams Fork, and
Colorado Rivers and their tributaries. Denver Water agrees not to divert any
water through the Moffat Project for storage in an enlarged Gross Reservoir
until such time that the water committed by Denver Water pursuant to this
Article TILE is legally available for use by Grand County.
c. Responsibility for Infrastructure. Several provisions of this Article III.E
require Denver Water to deliver or make water available for various uses
within Grand County. Except for the funding for water projects pursuant to
Article IILE.14, Denver Water will not be responsible for the costs of any
new infrastructure required to deliver or make the water available.
2. $2 million for to Address Nutrient Loading Upon Issuance and Acceptance by
Denver Water of Permits Necessary for the Moffat Project, Denver Water will
provide $2 million to pay for measures to address nutrient loading, including but not
limited to improvements to the capacity of wastewater treatment plants. If the
Mitigation Plan required in the permitting process for the Moffat Project mandates
funds for this purpose, then the direct funding to Grand County under this paragraph
would be proportionately reduced. For example, if the mitigation plan requires the
expenditure of $500,000 for nutrient loading, then the direct funding to Grand
County would be reduced to $1.5 million. The nutrient loading funds will be
allocated and administered by a board consisting of one representative from each of
the following entities: Grand County Commissioners, Town of Fraser, Grand County
Water and Sanitation District No. 1, Winter Park Water and Sanitation District,
Tabernash Meadows Water and Sanitation District, Granby Water and Sanitation
District, and Winter Park Ranch Water and Sanitation District.
3. $1 Million for Aquatic Habitat. Upon Issuance and Acceptance by Denver Water of
Permits Necessary for the Moffat Project, Denver Water will provide $1 million to
be used in the Cooperative Effort process described in Article III.E.6 for the purpose
of improving aquatic habitat in the Upper Colorado, Fraser and Williams Fork River
basins. If the Mitigation PIan required in the permitting process for the Moffat
Project mandates funds for this purpose, then the direct funding to Grand County
under this paragraph would be proportionately reduced.
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 19
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
4. Berthoud Pass Sedimentation Pond. Denver Water has entered into an agreement
with CDOT to construct a sediment catch basin above Denver's diversion structure
on the Fraser River. Denver Water has agreed to operate and maintain the project
and will also commit to contribute $50,000 for this effort. Grand County agrees that
Denver Water may seek mitigation credit for sediment removal in the Fraser River
from COE for its participation in the sediment project.
5. Environmental Pool in Gross Enlargement. Denver Water has entered into an
agreement with the Cities of Boulder and Lafayette dated February 24, 2010, to
- create a 5,000 acre -foot Environmental Pool within the enlargement of Gross
Reservoir as part of the Moffat Project. Denver Water agrees not to store water,
directly or by exchange, any of its West Slope water rights in the Environmental
Pool in Gross Reservoir, unless the River District, Middle Park and Grand County
have agreed in advance and in writing.
6. Cooperative Effort for Aquatic Environment. Denver Water, the River District,
Middle Park, and Grand County agree to execute an intergovernmental agreement
establishing the Learning by Doing Cooperative Effort ( "Cooperative Effort") to
protect, restore, and when possible enhance, the aquatic environment in the Upper
Colorado, Fraser and Williams Fork River basins. Denver Water and Grand County
will jointly request that the COE acknowledge the Learning by Doing IGA in the
Record of Decision for the Moffat Project.
7. Additional $1 Million for Aquatic Habitat. Upon Issuance and Acceptance by
Denver Water of Permits Necessary for the Moffat Project, Denver Water will
provide $1 million to Grand County, in addition to the funds committed in Article
III.E.3, to be used in the Cooperative Effort process for the purpose of improving
aquatic habitat.
8. $2 Million for Future Environmental Enhancements. Denver Water will place $2
million in an interest bearing account acceptable to the Management Committee
established as part of the Cooperative Effort within two years after the Moffat
Project becomes operational to address potential future environmental enhancements
in Grand County as part of the Cooperative Effort.
9. Funds for Windy Gap Pumps to Provide Environmental Flows. Beginning with the
year the Moffat Project becomes operational, Denver Water will place $500,000 into
an interest bearing fund (WG Pumping Fund) acceptable to and controlled
exclusively by Grand County. Two years after the fund is established, Denver Water
will place a second $500,000 into the Fund. The WG Pumping Fund shall be used
by Grand County for the sole purpose of paying up to 50% of the annual costs for
using the Windy Gap Pumps to pump water for environmental purposes. The WG
Pumping Fund will be capped at $2 million dollars. Any amount in excess of $2
million at the end of a calendar year will be transferred to the Cooperative Effort
established in Article III.E.6 above for environmental improvement projects
identified in that process. Grand County, in its sole discretion, can elect to transfer
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 20
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
all or a portion of the WG Pumping Fund to the Cooperative Effort if Grand County
determines that such a transfer would provide greater environmental value.
10. Annual Bypasses on Fraser River Collection System. Each calendar year beginning
with the year the Moffat Project becomes operational, Denver Water agrees to make
available to Grand County 1,000 acre feet of water from its Fraser Collection System
( "Fraser 1,000 al') for use for environmental purposes and any incidental
recreational benefit. The Fraser 1,000 af shall be in addition to bypasses of water by
Denver Water required under the Amendatory Decision and existing contracts.
a. As provided in Article III.E.1.b, Denver Water will cooperate with Grand
County and the other Signatories to implement such legal mechanisms,
including the possibility of augmenting instream flows and making deliveries
to downstream demands, and to obtain such court decrees and approvals as
are necessary to .protect the Fraser 1,000 af in the Fraser and Colorado Rivers
so that it reaches critical stream segments and is not diverted directly or by
exchange by intervening structures within Grand County.
b. The Fraser 1,000 af shall be bypassed from Denver Water's existing facilities
in coordination with the Cooperative Effort, at times, in locations and in the
amounts requested by Grand County for environmental purposes. As part of
the Cooperative Effort and on a case -by -case basis, Denver Water agrees to
consider making available more than 1000 acre feet in a calendar year.
c. The Fraser 1,000 af shall be measured at appropriate points of measurement
for bypasses from the Fraser Collection System and shall be converted to acre
feet with the standard factor, i.e.1 cfs for 24 hours = 1.983 af.
d. Upon Issuance and Acceptance by Denver Water of Permits Necessary for
the Moffat Project, Denver Water will undertake voluntary pilot projects
using the Fraser 1,000 af for environmental purposes.
11. Annual Releases from Williams Fork. Each calendar year beginning with the year
the Moffat Project becomes operational, if a portion of the Fraser 1,000 of is made
available during a call on the river or when a Shoshone Outage Protocol is in effect
as described in Article VI, Denver Water agrees to make available for release a like
amount of water, up to 1,000 acre feet of water per year, from Williams Fork
Reservoir ( "Williams Fork 1,000 af") to Grand County for environmental purposes
and any incidental recreational benefit. The Williams Fork 1,000 af shall be in
addition to releases of water by Denver Water required under pre - existing contracts
and other legal obligations.
a. As provided in Article III.E. 1.b, Denver Water agrees to cooperate with
Grand County and the other Signatories to implement such legal mechanisms,
including augmenting instream flows and deliveries to downstream demands,
and to obtain such court decrees and approvals as are necessary to protect the
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 21
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
Williams Fork 1,000 af in the Williams Fork and Colorado Rivers so that it
reaches critical stream segments and is not diverted directly or by exchange
by intervening structures within Grand County.
b. The Williams Fork 1,000 af releases shall be coordinated with the
Cooperative Effort and shall be made available at times and in the amounts
requested by Grand County for use in the stream.
c. The Williams Fork 1,000 of shall be measured at the gage immediately below
Williams Fork Reservoir and converted to acre feet with the standard factor,
i.e.1 cfs for 24 hours = 1.983 af.
d. All or part of the Williams Fork 1,000 af, up to 2500 acre -feet, may be
carried over in Williams Fork Reservoir by Grand County into subsequent
years, subject to space available, payment of pro rata evaporative loss, and so
long as the carryover does not count against the Reservoir's fill or otherwise
jeopardize Denver Water's decreed water rights. The Williams Fork 1,000 af
and any amount carried over shall be the first to spill from Williams Fork
Reservoir. Denver Water will notify Grand County as soon as it reasonably
can that Williams Fork Reservoir is anticipated to spill, so that Grand County
can determine whether to request a release prior to the anticipated spill.
e. Upon Issuance and Acceptance by Denver Water of Permits Necessary for
the Moffat Project, Denver Water will undertake voluntary pilot projects
using up to 1,000 acre -feet of releases from Williams Fork Reservoir, for
environmental purposes.
12. Limits on Ability to Reduce USFS Bypass Flows. Denver Water is required by the
United States Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management to bypass the
natural inflow at its points of diversion on the Fraser River, Vasquez Creek, St. Louis
Creek and Ranch Creek under the stipulations 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), and 3(d) of the
Amendatory Decision dated April 22, 1970, Serial No. 027914 (the "Amendatory
Decision "). Beginning with the year the Moffat Project becomes operational,
Denver Water agrees not to reduce bypasses of water as authorized by stipulations
3(e) and 5 of the Amendatory Decision, except when Denver Water has banned
residential lawn watering during the irrigation season. However, Denver Water will
not reduce the bypass flow on a particular stream to an extent that would cause a
Grand County Municipal Water User to impose mandatory restrictions on indoor
water use, unless Denver Water is also imposing mandatory restrictions on indoor
water use within its Service Area. Prior to the Moffat Project becoming operational,
Denver Water agrees to undertake voluntary pilot projects limiting its ability to
reduce bypass flows as described in this paragraph.
13. Ditch Operational Changes. Denver has acquired several irrigation water rights in
Grand County and agrees to make those water rights available to enhance
environmental flows.
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 22
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
a. Big Lake Ditch. Upon execution of this Agreement, Denver Water will
participate in a joint study of how to maintain the historic agricultural uses of
the Big Lake Ditch so as to maximize the environmental benefits, while
substantially preserving the yield for Denver Water that it has paid for and is
counting on by retiring the Big Lake Ditch demand. If the study finds the
balance described in this paragraph, then Denver Water will implement the
study beginning with the year the Moffat Project becomes operational.
b. Rich Ditch and Hammond No. 1 Ditch. Upon Issuance and Acceptance by
Denver Water of Permits Necessary for the Moffat Project Denver Water and
Grand County agree to fund a study to determine how best to enhance stream
flows with Denver Water's rights in the Rich Ditch and Hammond No.1
Ditch. Any enhancements would be in addition to the Fraser 1,000 of and
would begin with the year the Moffat Project becomes operational.
•
14. Financial Contribution to Infrastructure Projects in Grand County. Denver Water
agrees to pay the following amounts to offset the costs of the water supply projects
listed in Attachment L, as approved by the Grand County Commissioners.
a. Denver Water will place $1.95 million in a fund upon execution of an Article
III Implementation Agreement (in the form set forth in Attachment M) by the
recipients of those funds listed in Attachment L. •
b. Denver Water will place $2 million in a fund within six months after Issuance
and Acceptance by Denver Water of Permits Necessary for the Moffat
Project or resolution of the Blue River Decree issues, whichever occurs later.
15. Year -Round Deliveries of Clinton Bypass Water. Upon the signing of an Article III
Implementation Agreement by all recipients of Clinton Bypass Water, Denver Water
will provide Clinton Bypass Water under the 1992 Clinton Agreement on a year
round basis if the Grand County Water Users provide replacement water in
accordance with the Replacement Water criterion of 4/3 to 1 in the summer, and if
that water is in -hand and usable by Denver Water. Grand County Water and
Sanitation District No. 1, Winter Park Water and Sanitations District, Town of
Granby and Town of Fraser have previously dedicated to Denver Water Replacement
Water in Wolford Mountain Reservoir at a ratio of 2/3 to 1 for winter use. If any of
those entities opts to take their Clinton Bypass Water in the summer, that entity
would be credited with the previously dedicated 2/3 acre -foot, and would only owe
an additional 2/3 of an acre -foot of Replacement Water for summer releases. Denver
Water agrees that the Grand County Operating Plan can be amended to add the Jim
Creek diversion as a point of delivery for the Clinton Bypass Water.
16. Twenty Percent Water. Denver Water has had a policy whereby any party who
purchases water rights for conveyance to the east slope through Denver Water's
system will make 20% of that water available to in -basin users. Denver Water
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 23
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
agrees to make the temporary 20% contracts permanent after the snowmaking return
flow recapture plan described in the Grand County Operating Plan is implemented,
and provided that snowmaking is within the 6,000 acre -foot limit established by the
1992 Clinton Agreement.
17. Municipal Use of Denver's Facilities. On a case -by -case basis, Denver Water may
allow water treatment plants on the Fraser River to use Denver Water's Fraser River
Collection System to convey water as a temporary source of supply, if a back up
supply is available and the necessary infrastructure has been installed.
18. Use of Unused Capacity. Denver Water is willing to explore, on a case -by -case
basis, the possibilities for using its system to benefit Grand County if Denver
Water's yield and operational needs are not impacted and its costs are not materially
increased.
19. Future West Slope Water Rights Development. In addition to the limitations on
Denver Water provided by Article I.C.3, Denver Water further agrees that it will not
undertake any future water development projects or appropriations or acquisitions of
water rights located in Grand County without the prior approval of the Grand County
Commissioners and the River District.
20. Grand County 375 Acre -Feet of Water. Upon Issuance and Acceptance by Denver
Water of Permits Necessary for the Moffat Project, Denver Water agrees to make an
additional 375 acre feet of water available to Grand County Water Users, to be
managed in accordance with the Grand County Operating Plan with a Replacement
Water ratio of 4/3 to 1 summer and 2/3 to 1 winter.
a. One hundred acre feet of the 375 acre feet will be allocated to the Winter
Park Recreational Association ( "WPRA ") for use in connection with the
Winter Park Ski Area and Resort. Any use of the 100 acre -feet for
snowmaking will be governed by the provisions of footnote I in Article
III.B.14; and snowmaking retum flows must be above the Denver Water
system.
b. The remaining 275 acre feet will be allocated and administered by a board
consisting of one representative from the Grand County Commissioners and
one representative each from the Towns of Fraser and Granby, the Grand
County Water and Sanitation District No. 1, and the Winter Park Water and
Sanitation District.
21. Water Supply for Grand County from Vail Ditch Shares. A group of governmental
entities in Grand County has formed the Grand County Mutual Ditch and Reservoir
Company (GCMD &RC), which has acquired shares in the Grand County Irrigated
Land Company (Vail Ditch), and may acquire additional shares in the future. Upon
execution of an Article III Implementation Agreement by GCMD &RC, Denver
Water agrees to allow GCMD &RC's Vail Ditch shares to be traded for a like amount
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 24
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
of water in Denver Water's Fraser Collection System and carried through that system
for delivery and use in the headwaters of the Fraser River Basin, without any
increase or decrease in yield to Denver Water's system, provided that GCMD &RC
pays for any necessary new infrastructure and reimburses Denver Water for any
additional operational costs.
Denver Water agrees not to oppose any changes of Vail Ditch shares or such other
legal or administrative mechanisms that allow the GCMD &RC to use this water.
Denver Water may file statements of opposition to such change applications for the
Limited purpose of ensuring compliance with the obligations of this agreement.
Denver Water will cooperate in seeking Englewood's approval for use of its system
to transport Vail Ditch water. If GCMD &RC is able to divert the Vail Ditch shares
at other locations, Denver Water agrees not to object to such alternative diversions,
provided that there is no adverse impact to Denver Water's supply or operations.
22. Denver Water Lands for Habitat or Access. Denver Water and Grand County will
study which of Denver Water's lands in Grand County may have potential value for
wildlife habitat and public fishing access without impacting present and future
operational needs. Within one year of Issuance and Acceptance by Denver Water of
Permits Necessary for the Moffat Project, Denver Water will decide which identified
lands should be set aside for these purposes and what mechanism should be used.
23. Support for CWCB Filing. If information made available on the locations being
considered, the impacts of the Wild and Scenic River issues, and the purpose and
amounts of the filing demonstrates the lack of an impact on Denver Water's
operations, Denver Water agrees not to oppose CWCB instream flow filings on those
segments of the Colorado River below the confluence of the Blue River where
currently there are no instream flow rights.
24. Support for RICD. If information made available on the locations being considered,
the impacts to the Wild and Scenic River issues, and the purpose and amount of the
filing demonstrate the lack of an impact on Denver Water's operations, Denver
Water agrees not to oppose a Recreational In- Channel Diversion ( "RICD ") filing for
the Colorado River below Gore Canyon in the Pumphouse reach above the
Grand/Eagle County line.
F. Grand Valley. Denver Water shall pay $1.5 million into a fund (the "Grand Valley
Fund ") to be designated by and controlled by the Grand Valley Signatories to this
Agreement (the "Grand Valley Entities "). The following provisions shall apply to
the Grand Valley Fund:
1. The Grand Valley Fund and any accruals to the Grand Valley Fund shall be
• used for water supply, water quality and/or water infrastructure projects in or
benefiting the Grand Valley. Subject to such limitation, the projects for
which the money in the Grand Valley Fund will be used shall be determined
in the sole discretion of the Grand Valley Entities.
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 25
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
2. Denver Water shall pay the $1.5 million into the Grand Valley Fund pursuant
to the following schedule:
a. $1 million shall be paid within 2 years after resolution of Blue River
Decree issues.
b. $500,000 shall be paid within 2 years after the Effective Date of this
Agreement.
G. Middle Colorado River.
1. Within two years after the Effective Date of this Agreement , Denver Water
shall place $500,000 in an interest - bearing account to offset additional O &M
costs or the costs of upgrading diversion structures of water treatment plants
in Garfield County, pursuant to the provisions of Article VI.E.3..
2. Within one year of issuance of an acceptable permit for the Moffat Project,
Denver Water agrees to place $1 million in a fund for flow - related projects to
protect Wild & Scenic ORVs. [DW offer - permit mitigation]
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 26
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
ARTICLE IV
Agreements Regarding Denver Water's Water Rights
A. Blue River Decree. The West Slope Signatories shall support and cooperate in any
legal or administrative proceedings necessary to implement the provisions of this
Agreement related to the Blue River Decree.
1. Current Water Court Proceedings. The West Slope Signatories shall not contest and
the Signatories that are parties to the case will stipulate to the entry of the proposed
decrees included in Attachment N in Case No. 2006CW255 (Roberts Tunnel)
making 654 efs absolute and finding diligence for the remaining conditional amount;
and Case No. 2003 CW039 (Dillon Refill) making 141,712 acre -feet absolute in
accord with the Amended Application to Make Absolute, filed with the court on
February 16, 2006, and finding diligence for the remaining conditional amounts and
uses.
2. Waiver of Claims Related to Blue River Decree. The West Slope signatories agree
that claim preclusion applies to all claims and objections to Denver Water's
operations under the Blue River Decrees raised or which could have reasonably been
raised in Case Nos. 06CW255 and 03CW039, or which could have reasonably been
raised in previous diligence proceedings for these water rights. The Signatories
agree that the resolution of the current diligence proceeding constitutes an
adjudication on the merits of their statements of opposition.
3. Claims Not Precluded. The West Slope signatories may file statements of opposition
in future proceedings under the Blue River Decree limited to: 1) Denver Water's
compliance with this Agreement, and 2) claims that were not and could not
reasonably have been raised in prior proceedings.
B. East Slope Storage of Blue River Water. " Imported Blue River Water" means any
water transported through the Roberts Tunnel that was diverted under the Blue River
Diversion Project direct flow or Dillon Reservoir storage priorities decreed in C.A.
Nos. 1805 and 1806 and Civil Nos. 2782, 5016 and 5017, including water diverted
under the decrees in Case Nos. 87CW376 and 91CW252 and water exchanged
pursuant to paragraph IV.C.1 below. Denver Water may store any Imported Blue
River Water, whether released from Dillon Reservoir or diverted directly through the
Roberts Tunnel at any existing or future storage facility on the East Slope; provided
that the amount of Imported Blue. River Water in storage on the East Slope does not
exceed 400,000 acre feet at any point in time. This provision and limitation on the
amount of Imported Blue River Water does not apply to the storage of return flows
from the use or reuse of Imported Blue River Water either directly or by exchange to
any existing or future storage facility.
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 27
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
C. Denver Water's Exchanges.
1. Decreed Exchanges. The West Slope Signatories agree that Denver Water may
operate its exchanges from Williams Fork Reservoir to Dillon Reservoir decreed in
the Blue River Decrees, Civil Action No. 657, and C.A. 1430, and Case No.
88CW382; and from Williams Fork Reservoir to Williams Fork Diversion Project
(Jones Pass) and to the Fraser River Diversion Project decreed in Civil Action Nos.
657 and 1430).
2. Undecreed Exchanges from Dillon Reservoir . The West Slope Signatories will not
object to Denver Water's continued operation of and a decree for exchanges from
Dillon Reservoir to Williams Fork Reservoir with an appropriation of March 23, .
1983, and to existing points of diversion for the Fraser River and Williams Fork
Diversion Projects with an appropriation date of September 20, 1966, provided that
the exchanges are exercised and operated and the decree contains terms and
conditions that are at least as protective as the following;
a. An application for the exchanges will be filed in 2010, the exchanges will be
administered with a priority date of 2010, and the priority date or dates of the
exchanges will not be antedated pursuant to C.R.S. § 37 -92- 305(10). The
West Slope Signatories may file a statement of opposition but shall limit their
opposition to ensuring that the protective conditions in this paragraph are part
of the decree.
b. The maximum amount of the exchange to the Williams Fork Reservoir is
limited to a rate of 148 cfs (absolute) based on diversions March 23, 1983
and an annual volume of 6,095 af (absolute) based on diversions in water
year 1990. The maximum amount of the exchange to the existing points of
diversion on Fraser River and Williams Fork River Diversion Projects is
limited to a rate of 56 cfs (absolute) based on diversions September 9, 1985
and an annual volume of 8,747 af (absolute) based on diversions in water
year 1967.
c. The exchanges from Dillon Reservoir to Williams Fork Reservoir or
from Dillon Reservoir to the Fraser River and Williams Fork River
Diversion Projects shall not be exercised or operated if the Division 5-
Engineer advises Denver Water that curtailment of the exchanges is
required to satisfy all senior instream flows existing in 2009, and
Iocated in the applicable stream reach affected by the diversion,
including the following CWCB instream flow decrees:
1) Colorado River (80CW448, 80CW446, 80CW447)
2) Williams Fork River 79CW185, 79CW183, 79CW181, 79CW180,
79CW175, 79CW173, 79CW172, 79CW170, 79CW169,
79CW168, 79CW165)
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 28
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
(a) Bobtail Creek (79CW164, 79CW163)
(b) Steelman Creek (79CW167, 79CW166).
3) Fraser River (90CW308B, 90CW308, 90CW315, 90CW307,
90CW302, 90CW289)
(a) St. Louis Creek (90CW316, 90CW317A, 90CW317,
90CW304)
(b) Vasquez Creek (90CW318)
(c) Ranch Creek (90CW305, 90CW306A, 90CW306,
90CW314)
(d) Cabin Creek (90CW312)
(e) Hamilton Creek (90CW311)
(f) Meadow Creek (90CW310, 90CW309)
d. The provisions in this paragraph IV. C.2. shall apply irrespective of
whether any of the CWCB instream flow decrees Iisted in Article
IV.C.2.c above contain provisions that might otherwise protect
Denver Water's existing exchanges through these reaches from
impairment by CWCB instream flows in the reaches.
D. 1978 Judgment and Decree. This language will appear either here or in Article V
and declaratory judgment complaint. ] With respect to the Supplemental
Judgments and Decree entered in the Consolidated Cases on February 9, 1978, the
West Slope Signatories agree that operations under which Denver Water diverts
under its direct flow priority for the Roberts Tunnel prior to completion of the annual
fill of Green Mountain Reservoir are consistent with the Blue River Decree;
provided that:
I. Until Green Mountain Reservoir is filled, Denver Water shall hold in Dillon
Reservoir or other reservoirs approved in advance by the Secretary of the Interior
(Secretary) an amount of water equivalent to the amount directly diverted through
the Roberts Tunnel, to the extent the Secretary from time to time advises Denver
Water that such waters may be needed to assure the filling of Green Mountain
Reservoir. Such water shall be subject to release by Denver Water on call of the
Secretary to the extent diversions by Denver Water are required to complete the
annual filling of Green. Mountain Reservoir.
2. Denver Water's operations shall be subject to the consent and approval of the
Secretary consistent with the Blue River Decree provisions.
3. Denver Water's operations shall be in compliance with all of the terms and
conditions of the 1955, 1964 and 1978 Judgments and Decrees of the federal court in
the Consolidated Cases relating to Denver Water's diversion, substitution and
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 29
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
9 Y 9
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
exchange of water as against the annual filling of and operation of Green Mountain
Reservoir.
•
4. The West Slope Signatories reserve the right to object to the addition of new
substitution, exchange or replacement sources, or amounts other than those specified
in Article III.A.4 not currently decreed for such use by Denver Water
E. Substitution Agreements. The West Slope Signatories agree to support and execute, as
appropriate, all future renewals of the Memorandum of Agreement among the U.S. Bureau
of Reclamation, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Colorado River Water
Conservation District, and Denver Water dated December 30, 1991, regarding substitutions
from Wolford Mountain Reservoir (MOA No. 2- AG- 60- 01550), provided that such
renewals are consistent with this Agreement and are reasonably the same in form and
substance as the existing MOA, as modified by the July 21, 1992 Agreement Amending
• Lease Agreement between Colorado River Water Conservation District and City and County
of Denver.
F. Straight Creek Project. Summit County agrees to extend and not challenge the validity of
the 1041 permit for Denver Water's Straight Creek project dated July 17, 1985, so that a
new permit will not be required for Denver Water to proceed with the project as permitted in
1985 as described in Attachment O. Consistent with its 1996 Resource Statement, Denver
Water agrees that it will develop the Straight Creek project only with the prior approval of
the Summit County Commissioners and the River District.
G. Wolford Mountain Reservoir.
1. Repayment Water. With regard to the 1000 acre feet of Repayment Water
( "WMR 1KAF ") referenced in paragraph 20(b) of the Agreement Amending
Lease Agreement between the River District and Denver Water, dated July
12, 1992 ( "Wolford Agreement "), the River District and Denver Water agree
that the River District shall provide and account for the WMR 1KAF as
follows:
a. The first 500 acre feet of the WMR 1KAF, along with the 613 acre
feet of water available to Denver Water under paragraph 20(c) of the Wolford
Agreement, shall be made available every year and used by Denver Water
for substitution purposes.
b. The remaining 500 acre -feet of the WMR1KAF shall be stored and used for
substitution purposes in the same manner as the water storage attributable to
Denver Water's 40% interest in the Wolford Mountain Reservoir water right
and storage space (a volume of 24,000 acre - feet), on a pro rata basis (500
acre -feet = 0.83% of 60,000 acre -feet, so water would be stored at a rate of
40.83 %).
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 30
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
•
2. Second Enlargement of Wolford. Deriver Water agrees to waive any right to .
participate in the second enlargement of Wolford Mountain Reservoir, in the same or
a lesser amount as claimed in Case No. 03CW302, Water Division 5. The River
District agrees that Denver Water is not obligated to pay any capital or OM &R costs
associated with a second enlargement.
3. 1041 Permit for Wolford. The River District and Denver Water agree to work
cooperatively as co- permittees to obtain any amendment to the Grand County 1041
permit for Wolford Mountain Reservoir that may be necessary (1) to address current
operations of Wolford Mountain Reservoir under the Wolford Agreement; and (2) to
effectuate the applicable provisions of this Agreement. Upon application for such a
permit amendment, Grand County agrees to cooperate to process an amendment as
quickly as possible.
4. R.eplacement Water. In addition to water in Wolford Mountain Reservoir
that Denver Water is currently entitled to use for substitution and other
purposes, this Agreement requires that Replacement Water be available to
Denver Water as a condition of several water deliveries under Article III.
The estimated maximum volume of Replacement Water that might be
required under this Agreement is 2,590 acre -feet in any single substitution
year. Under the 1992 Clinton Agreement and the 1985 Summit Agreement,
West Slope entities have agreed to provide Replacement Water to Denver
Water in an amount estimated to be 1,249 acre -feet annually, which could be
supplied from Wolford. The Signatories wish to ensure that Wolford
Mountain Reservoir could be used to provide the full 3,839 acre feet of
Replacement Water, even though it is anticipated that Replacement Water
will be provided to Denver Water from other sources. The Signatories agree
to cooperate to implement acceptable amendments or approvals as might be
necessary to ensure that the 1991 MOA between the Bureau of Reclamation,
Denver Water, the Colorado River Water Conservation District and the
Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District; the decree in Case No.
91CW252; and the 1041 permit for Wolford Mountain Reservoir allow the
use of the full 3,839 acre feet of Replacement Water, in addition to the water.
in Wolford the Denver Water is currently entitled to use for substitution and
other purposes.
The West Slope Signatories agree that Replacement Water provided by the
West Slope to Denver Water from Wolford Mountain Reservoir as
Replacement Water under the 1985 Summit Agreement, the 1992 Clinton
Agreement and this Agreement is a permissible use of Wolford Mountain
Reservoir by Denver Water.
H. Storage in Gross and Ralston Reservoirs. The West Slope Signatories shall not contest
Denver Water's storage of Williams Fork and Cabin - Meadow Creek water as decreed in
Case No. 657, in Gross and Ralston Reservoirs. The agreement of the West Slope
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 31
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
Signatories in this paragraph is premised on circumstances and consideration unique to this
Agreement.
I. Deliveries of Water to the City of Golden. The West Slope Signatories shall not contest
whether Denver Water's delivery of water to the City of Golden under the contract dated
May 10, 2007, is consistent with Denver's water rights decrees.
J. Moffat Project Permitting. The West Slope Signatories (except Grand County which is a
consulting agency on the Moffat Project EIS) shall not oppose and shall withdraw all
opposition with regard to the issuance of all permits required for the Moffat Project,
including those permits listed in Attachment P.IUnresolved issue.]
K. Water Rights in Eagle River Basin. The West Slope Signatories that are parties to the cases
involving Denver Water's Eagle- Colorado water rights agree to implement the settlement of
Denver Water's Eagle- Colorado diligence case and to facilitate the water court case
changing the location of Denver Water's Piney River water right to State Bridge. All the
West Slope Signatories agree not to oppose a water court application changing the location
of Denver Water's Piney River water right to State Bridge. .
L. Water Rights in Williams Fork Basin. The West Slope Signatories shall not contest and
West Slope Signatories that are parties to the cases will stipulate to the entry of the proposed
decrees included as Attachment Q in Case No. 2007CW031 (Jones Pass) making 245 cfs
absolute and finding diligence for the remaining conditional amount; and finding diligence
in Case Nos. 2007CW030 (Carr Ditch) and 2007CW029 (Darling Creek, Williams Fork
Power, Moffat Tunnel.
1. Waiver of Claims. The West Slope Signatories agree that claim preclusion applies to
all claims and objections to Denver Water's operations under the decrees listed in
this Article IV.L raised or which could have reasonably been raised in the cases
listed above, or which could have reasonably been raised in previous diligence
proceedings for these water rights. The signatories agree that the resolution of the
current diligence proceeding constitutes an adjudication on the merits of their
statements of opposition.
2. Claims Not Precluded. The West Slope Signatories may file statements of
opposition in future proceedings under the water rights listed above limited to: 1)
Denver Water's compliance with this Agreement, and 2) claims that were not and
could not reasonably have been raised in prior proceedings.
ARTICLE V
Green Mountain Reservoir Administration
Proposed resolution will be attached as Attachment R
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 32
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
ARTICLE VI
Shoshone Call
A. Shoshone Call.
1. The Shoshone Power Plant, which is owned and operated by Public Service
Company of Colorado, d/b /a/ Xcel Energy ( "Xcel "), is located on the
mainstem of the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon. The Shoshone Power
Plant produces hydroelectric energy by means of two water rights, the 1902
Shoshone Senior Right in the amount of 1250 efs and the 1929 Shoshone
Junior Right in the amount of 158 cfs (together, "Shoshone Water Rights ").
2. When the Shoshone Power Plant is operating, the Shoshone Water Rights
command the flow in the river by exercising the Senior Shoshone Call
against upstream junior water rights. When the Senior Shoshone Call is on,
upstream reservoirs cannot store water and junior water rights cannot divert
unless they provide an equal volume of replacement water to the stream.
Over the years, many water users have come to rely on the river flow regime
created by the Senior Shoshone Call ( "Shoshone Call Flows ").
3. Whenever the Shoshone Power Plant is subject to a shutdown for repair,
maintenance, or other reasons ( "Shoshone Outage "), the Shoshone Call
cannot be exercised, and Shoshone Call Flows may not be present in the
river.
4. The Signatories agree that a Shoshone Outage could adversely affect water
users and recreation interests on the Colorado River. Accordingly, the
Signatories agree to implement the operational procedures described in this
section during a Shoshone Outage (the "Shoshone Outage Protocol") to
mitigate such potential adverse effects. The Signatories also agree to
cooperate to achieve permanent management of the flows of the Colorado
River as described in Article VI.C, whether or not the Shoshone Power Plant
remains operational.
B. Shoshone Outage Protocol.
1. Outage During Irrigation a ion Season. If a Shoshone Outage occurs during
g g g g
the period from March 25 through November 10 (Irrigation Season)
and results in a flow of the Colorado River at the Dotsero Gauge
below 1,250 cfs (not including any water released for endangered fish
• species purposes), then the River District, Middle Park and Denver
Water agree that they will operate their systems as if the Senior
Shoshone Call were on the River, resulting in a flow of not more than
1250 cfs at the Dotsero Gauge (not including any water released for
endangered fish species purposes). The Shoshone Outage Protocol
will not a, .1 to Shoshone Outages that occur during certain very dry
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 33
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
Irrigation Seasons, as described in the following subparagraphs.
a. The very dry Irrigation Seasons occur when the two conditions
for a water shortage, as defined in paragraph 2 of the 2007
Shoshone Agreement, are met. Denver Water will make
projections in March prior to March 25, and again in early
May and late June to determine whether a water shortage is
occurring.
b. If a projection made under subparagraph a above in March or
May meets the conditions for a water shortage, then the
Shoshone Outage Protocol will not apply during the period
from that projection to the next projection. If a projection
made in March or May does not meet the conditions for a
water shortage, then the Shoshone Outage Protocol will apply
during the period from that projection to the next projection;
provided, however, that the Shoshone Outage Protocol will
not apply during any period when the Shoshone Call is relaxed
under the 2007 Shoshone Agreement.
c. If the projection made in June under subparagraph a above
meets the conditions for a water shortage, then the Shoshone
Outage Protocol will not apply during the remainder of the
Irrigation Season that year. If the projection made in June
• does not meet the conditions for a water shortage, then the
Shoshone Outage Protocol will apply during the remainder of
the Irrigation Season that year.
2. Green Mountain Reservoir. The Signatories will cooperate with one another
and use their best efforts to negotiate a separate agreement with the U. S.
Bureau of Reclamation ( "Reclamation ") pursuant to which Reclamation
would agree that if a Shoshone Outage occurs, it will continue to operate
Green Mountain Reservoir as if the Senior Shoshone Call were on the river.
Such agreement with Reclamation shall be subject to terms and conditions as
to which the Signatories and Reclamation shall agree, including the following
a. Any water released from storage in Green Mountain Reservoir would
be debited to the appropriate account within the reservoir's 100,000
Acre -Foot Pool to which the releases were attributed, e.g., the historic
users pool identified in paragraph 2 of Reclamation's January 23, 1984
Operatin g Policy Polic for Green Mountain Reservoir,
b. Water that would have been released from the 52,000 Acre -Foot
Replacement Pool had the Senior Shoshone Call been on the river shall
be debited as discretionary power releases from the 100,000 Acre -Foot
Pool, unless other arrangements are made with Reclamation and the
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 34
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District.
c. Reclamation will not be obligated to make releases from storage
pursuant to this provision if water is not available in the 100,000 Acre -
Foot Pool or if the total volume of Green Mountain Reservoir storage
accounts is less than an amount to be agreed upon by the West Slope
Signatories and Reclamation.
3. Outage During Winter Season. If a Shoshone Outage occurs during the
period from November 11 to March 24 (Winter Season): (1) as a result of
conditions other than scheduled maintenance on the Shoshone power plant
facilities, and (2) if flows at the Dotsero Gauge are at or below 900 cfs, the
River District and Denver Water agree that they will operate their systems as
if the Senior Shoshone Call were on the river, subject to the following:
The Shoshone Outage Protocol will not apply fully to Shoshone Outages that
occur during certain very dry Winter Seasons, when the overall storage in
Denver Water's system is less than % of capacity on November 1. [This
% 85%
/o of capacity will have the same frequency of occurrence as would 85 /o
capacity on July 1.] For purposes of this paragraph, the reservoirs that will
be considered in determining overall storage are those reservoirs listed in
Exhibit A to the 2007 Shoshone Agreement, but excluding any reservoirs
under storage restrictions due to maintenance, repairs or orders from the
Colorado State Engineer.
a. If the storage is less than % [equivalent to 85% on July 1], but
more than % [equivalent to 77.5% on July 1], then the Shoshone Outage
Protocol will be applied at half the normal effect during that Winter Season.
For example, if Denver Water would be required to bypass or replace 60 c.£ s.
under the full operation of the Shoshone Outage Protocol, Denver Water
would be required to bypass or replace 30 c.f.s. if the Shoshone Outage
Protocol is applied at half the normal effect.
b. If the storage is equal to or less than % [equivalent to 77.5 %],
o a
but more than _ /o {equivalent to 70 /a], then the Shoshone Outage Protocol
will be applied at one -fourth the normal effect during that Winter Season.
c. If the storage is equal to or less than % [equivalent to 70%], then
the Shoshone Outage Protocol will not be applied during that Winter Season.
4. The Signatories will cooperate with one another and use their best efforts to:
a. Obtain the agreement of other diverters to participate in the Shoshone
Outage Protocol.
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 35
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
b. Obtain the agreement of the State of Colorado water administration
officials to shepherd water released from upstream reservoirs or
otherwise bypassed from upstream water rights under the Shoshone
Outage Protocol to the Grand Valley under a donated instream flow, a
municipal recreation delivery contract or other acceptable
arrangement, and to refrain from accounting for releases from storage
under the Shoshone Outage Protocol as storable inflow.
C. Permanency of Shoshone Call Flows.
1. It is the goal of the Signatories to achieve permanent management of the flow
of the Colorado River so that the flow mimics the Shoshone Call Flows,
whether or not the Senior Shoshone Call is on the river and whether or not
the Shoshone Power Plant remains operational.
2. Denver Water and the River District agree to operate their systems on a
permanent basis under the Shoshone Outage Protocol described in Article
VLB, even if the Shoshone Power Plant ceases operations altogether, and
regardless of whether the plant is acquired under Article VI.D, subject to the
following conditions:
a. The relaxation provisions described in Article VIE below remain in
full force and effect.
b. The Shoshone Outage Protocol would not apply for 17 cumulative
days during the Winter Season, to duplicate the effect of the current
scheduled outages for maintenance.
•
3. The Signatories agree to use their best efforts to work with Xcel Energy,
other diverters, Reclamation and the State of Colorado water administration
officials to devise and implement a mechanism or combination of
mechanisms that will permanently preserve the Shoshone Call Flows. In
addition to the amounts provided in Article VLE.1.c., Denver Water agrees to
pay one -third of the costs, not to exceed $100,000, incurred by West Slope
Signatories to begin the process of implementing a mechanism to preserve
the Shoshone Call Flows on a permanent basis. If total costs exceed
$300,000, the Signatories will confer with regard to further actions.
D. West Slope Acquisition of Shoshone Assets
1. West Slope water users believe that one means to ensure the permanent
maintenance of the Shoshone Call is the acquisition and operation of the
Shoshone Power Plant and Shoshone Water Rights (the "Shoshone Assets ")
by a West Slope governmental entity that is mutually acceptable to the West
Slope Signatories ( "West Slope Governmental Entity ").
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 36
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
2. Within twenty -four (24) months after the effective date of this Agreement
("Investigation Period "), any of the West Slope Signatories may agree among
themselves and at their own cost, to undertake and complete an investigation
of the viability of purchasing the Shoshone Assets and operating the
Shoshone Power Plant (the "Initial Investigation "). The Initial Investigation
may include direct negotiations with Xcel; the hiring of consultants necessary
to evaluate the Plant's physical and financial condition and the value of the
Shoshone Assets; an evaluation of the legal and regulatory requirements that
must be met in order to transfer the Shoshone Assets to a West Slope
• Governmental Entity; an evaluation of the appropriate West Slope
Governmental Entity to acquire and operate the Shoshone Assets and the
steps necessary to create such an entity, if a new entity is to be created; and
any other matters that the West Slope Signatories believe are necessary or
desirable. Denver Water shall assist the West Slope Signatories upon request
in undertaking and completing the investigations during the Investigation
Period. The West Slope Signatories may agree among themselves to extend
the Investigation Period.
3. If any of the West Slope Signatories determine that it is feasible for a West
Slope Governmental Entity to acquire and operate the Shoshone Assets and if
Xcel is willing to sell or otherwise transfer the Shoshone Assets to a West
Slope Governmental Entity, the West Slope Signatories may agree among
themselves to pursue the transfer of the Shoshone Assets to a West Slope
Governmental Entity. Denver Water agrees that it will support such
acquisition and will take such reasonable actions as may be necessary to
assist the West Slope Signatories in completing the acquisition of the
Shoshone Assets. Upon notification by any of the West Slope Signatories of
their intent to acquire the Shoshone Assets, Denver Water agrees not to assert
its right under paragraph 13 of the 2007 Shoshone Agreement to require that
the Shoshone Water Rights be sold only in an open competitive bidding
process.
4. Denver Water shall not be obligated to pay any of the purchase price for the
Shoshone Assets if other mechanisms are reasonably available to preserve the
Shoshone Call Flows. If other mechanisms are not reasonably available, and
purchase of the Shoshone Assets is determined to be the best viable option to
preserve the Shoshone Call Flows, then Denver Water agrees to contribute to
the purchase price in a negotiated amount that is proportionate to its share of
the overall benefits created by the purchase, and reasonable as compared to
the financial contributions to the purchase price by other parties.
5. If a West Slope Governmental Entity acquires the Shoshone Assets, the
Shoshone Call relaxation provisions described in Section VI.E below, shall
remain permanently in effect.
E. Relaxation of Shoshone Call.
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 37
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
1. Existing Call Relaxation Agreement. Denver Water and Xcel are parties to
the 2007 Shoshone Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Attachment S.
The 2007 Shoshone Agreement currently is set to expire on December 31,
2032. The Signatories agree that the Shoshone Call relaxation provisions of
the 2007 Shoshone Agreement shall remain in effect during its term and any
renewal thereof.
a. Denver Water agrees that, except as provided in Articles V and VI.E.2,
it will not seek any relaxation of the Shoshone Call, other than a
renewal of the specific provisions of the 2007 Shoshone Agreement
beyond the year 2032.
b. The West Slope Signatories will not oppose a renewal of the 2007
Shoshone Agreement, provided that the Shoshone Outage Protocol •
remains in effect.
c. If the relaxation of the Shoshone Call is made permanent and Denver
Water's yield is increased as a result, Denver Water agrees that 500
acre -feet of the increased yield (Relaxation Water) will be made
available as potable water for use as blending water in a project using
reusable return flows as described in Article I.B.2.e. The water supply
created by the Relaxation Water will be added to the list of permissible
fixed- amount contracts listed in Article I.B.1. In return for the
availability of the Relaxation Water, the recipients must agree to pay
the 2010 System Development Charge (SDC) applicable to potable
• water served outside the Combined Service Area. Denver Water will
transmit the SDCs attributable to the Relaxation Water into a
Relaxation Water Fund to be used (a) to contribute to the acquisition of
the Shoshone Assets under Article VI.D; or (b) to implement a
mechanism or combination of mechanisms that will permanently
preserve the Shoshone Call Flows. It is anticipated that advance
financing may be needed to accomplish the purposes described in this
paragraph. The Signatories agree to consult with each other on an
appropriate financing mechanism, should one be needed. It is also
anticipated that the SDCs for the Relaxation Water may be paid
pursuant to a payment schedule. If the Relaxation Water Fund is not
fully expended for the purposes described in this paragraph, the money
shall be used to contribute to the costs of a fixture cooperative project,
determined by the River District and Denver Water to be beneficial to
both the West Slope and the East Slope.
2. Expansion of Call Relaxation Period for Severe Drought Conditions. The
2007 Shoshone Agreement provides that the Shoshone Call may be relaxed
during the period from March 14 until May 20, inclusive ( "Call Relaxation
Period "), under the conditions specified in the 2007 Shoshone Agreement.
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 38
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
Denver Water desires to extend the Call Relaxation Period back into the
winter months during extreme drought periods. The West Slope Signatories
agree to support the amendment of the 2007 Shoshone Agreement to provide
for the relaxation of the Senior Shoshone Call down to 704 cfs (a "one -
turbine call ") for an expanded period during the winter months ( "Expanded
Call Relaxation Period "), subject to the following terms and conditions:
a. An Expanded Call Relaxation Period may occur under either of the
following circumstances:
i. The Senior Shoshone Call may be relaxed to a one - turbine call
beginning on November 11 if Denver Water has banned
outdoor residential lawn watering beginning no later than
August 1, and the ban has remained in effect continuously
from its inception through November 11.
ii. The Senior Shoshone Call may also be relaxed to a one -
turbine call beginning three (3) days after the date that the
Denver Water Board formally adopts a drought declaration
requiring that outdoor residential lawn watering be prohibited
during the following irrigation season. The call relaxation
under this section only applies to the period from November
• 11 until March of the following year.
b. Denver Water will pay for power replacement costs as provided for in
the 2007 Shoshone Agreement.
c. Denver Water will provide ten percent (10 %) of the net water savings
as defined in the 2007 Shoshone Agreement for use by West Slope
Signatories. The West Slope Signatories will allocate the 10% as they
may determine pursuant to any future agreement among them.
d. The Expanded Call Relaxation Period will end the earlier of
i. The date Denver Water rescinds its ban on outdoor residential
lawn watering; or
ii. The date a Cameo Call is placed on the river; or
iii. March 14 of the year following implementation of the
Extended Call Relaxation Period if implementation occurs on
or prior to December 31; or March 14 of the year in which the
Expanded Call Relaxation Period was implemented if
implementation occurs on or after January 1.
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 39
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
e. Any relaxation of the Shoshone Call after March 14 of any given year
shall occur only as provided in the 2007 Shoshone Agreement.
3. Call Relaxation Mitigation. The $500,000 to be placed in a special fund by
Denver Water pursuant to Article IILG of this Agreement shall be managed
and utilized as follows:
a. The proceeds of this fund will be used to help offset the impacts of, or
prepare for, a call relaxation pursuant to the 2007 Shoshone
Agreement or during the Expanded Call Relaxation Period, or a
Shoshone Outage during the Winter Season pursuant to Section
VI.B.3, above.
b. In order for a municipal water provider to access the funds described
in this subsection, the provider must either be a signatory to this
Agreement or must be located in Garfield County and agree to be
bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
c. The West Slope Signatories at their discretion may utilize funds
available to any of them pursuant to Article III of this Agreement or
the West Slope Fund to either replace or increase the funding for this
special fund as may be necessary or desirable from time to time.
F. Environmental and Recreational Pilot Project. The Signatories agree to evaluate a
pilot project to determine the feasibility of implementing a partial Shoshone Ca11
relaxation in non - critical winter months and dedicating the saved water to
environmental and recreation purposes.
G. Support for Glenwood Springs RICD. The City of Glenwood Springs currently has
whitewater features located below the confluence of the Colorado River and the
Roaring Fork River near Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Glenwood Springs currently
does not have an adjudicated water right for these white water features but
anticipates filing for one at some point in the future. In addition, Glenwood Springs
anticipates creating additional white water features on the reach of the Colorado
River between the Shoshone Power PIant and South Canyon on the main stem of the
Colorado River. Denver Water will not oppose the filing of a water rights
application for a Recreational In- Channel Diversion ( "RICD ") for the existing and
proposed structures by Glenwood Springs; provided that any such application filed
for any proposed structure above the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Colorado
Rivers does not: (1) Claim a flow rate that exceeds the amount of water needed to
satisfy the senior Shoshone Call for 1,250 cfs at the Dotsero gage; (2) Seek an
amount of water in excess of that needed to replicate historic operations under the
Senior Shoshone Call; or (3) Impair Denver's ability to divert under Article VI.
As to structures located below the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Colorado
Rivers, Denver and Glenwood Springs recognize that the contributing flows of the
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 40
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
two rivers make it difficult to predict the exact effect of a RICD on flows above the
confluence. Glenwood Springs agrees to consult with Denver regarding such
application prior to filing.
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 41
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
• ARTICLE VII
Bilateral Commitments
A. Water Rights Peace Pact. With regard to all conditional water rights presently owned by the
Signatories to this Agreement, [list in Attachment T] the Signatories agree to withdraw any
statements of opposition in each others' pending diligence filings and not to oppose each other's
pending or future diligence applications, including applications to make the listed conditional rights
absolute, provided, however, that the parties may file statements of opposition to such applications
for the limited purpose of ensuring compliance with the obligations of this agreement.
B. Water Conservation. The Signatories to this Agreement will cooperate to develop and promote best
management practices for water conservation appropriate for the various types of water use and
regional geographic locations within the state. The Signatories agree to adopt any best management
practices developed under this paragraph for their own water uses.
C. Compact Curtailment Plan. The Signatories agree to cooperate in good faith toward the
development of a plan to avoid a potential curtailment of existing Colorado water rights under the
provisions of the :1922 Colorado River Compact and the 1948 Upper Colorado River Compact, and
to mitigate the impacts of any unavoidable curtailment. If joint efforts do not result in agreement on
such a plan, each Signatory will take such actions as it may deem necessary to protect its water
rights from curtailment.
D. Freedom to Operate. So long as the Signatories meet all of their obligations under this Agreement,
their independent legal obligations and any contemporaneous implementing agreements, the
Signatories agree that they do not have an obligation to operate their system or to conduct their
decision- making in any particular way.
E. No Third Party Beneficiaries. It is expressly understood and agreed that enforcement of the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, and all rights of action relating to such enforcement, shall be
strictly reserved to the Signatories, and nothing contained in this Agreement shall give or allow any
such claim to a right of action by any third person. It is the expressed intention of the Signatories
that any person other than a signatory receiving services or benefits under this Agreement shall be
deemed to be an incidental beneficiary only.
F. ' No Precedent. The various commitments and agreements of the Signatories to this agreement are
premised on circumstances and considerations unique to this Agreement. Nothing in this
Agreement shall be construed as establishing any legal precedent regarding any matters not
expressly addressed in this Agreement. The Signatories agree that they do not intend this
Agreement to have the effect of precedent or preclusion on any factual or legal issues in any matter
not expressly addressed in this Agreement.
G. Risk Sharing. A fundamental premise of this Agreement is that the Signatories will not
actively seek to undermine, or encourage others to undermine, the Signatories' respective
interests and resources that have been committed, compromised, dedicated, or otherwise
addressed in this A. eement. For .urposes of this paragraph, "Adverse Action" means an
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 42
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
. action of a legislature, court, administrative agency, regulatory body or other governmental
entity that would cause a material adverse impact to a Signatory's interests or resources that
have been committed, compromised or otherwise addressed in this Agreement. In the event
that an Adverse Action is proposed or is likely to occur, the Signatory whose interests or
resources would suffer a material adverse impact will notify the other Signatories. The
Signatories will meet and discuss in good faith the potential detrimental effect of such
Adverse Action, with the goal of determining whether any action by one or more Signatories
could avoid the Adverse Action or mitigate its impact on the affected Signatory. Each party
agrees to evaluate in good faith whether it can implement changes in its operations or
undertake other efforts that would achieve this goal, and to implement any such efforts as
may be agreed to by the Signatories.
H. Preservation of Governmental Powers. Except as specifically provided herein, nothing in
this Agreement shall be construed as a limitation on or waiver of any review, approval, or
permit authority, or a predetermination of any action taken thereunder, by any governmental
or quasi - municipal entity including, without limitation, the legislative or quasi-judicial
power or authority of Eagle, Grand and Summit Counties and the City and County of
Denver, acting by and through its Board of Water Commissioners.
No Property Interest Created. Any rights created by this Agreement are contractual rights.
This Agreement does not create and shall not be construed to create or convey any property
interest, including any covenant, easement or servitude, in the real property of any
Signatory.
J. Implementation of this Agreement. In Article IV.A.1, the West Slope Signatories agree not
to contest or to stipulate to the entry of the two proposed decrees included in Attachment N,
in Case No. 2006CW255 (Roberts Tunnel — N1) and Case No. 2003 CW039 (Dillon Refill
— N2), and to support and cooperate in any proceedings necessary to implement the
provisions of this Agreement related to the Blue River Decree. The Signatories agree that, •
upon execution of this Agreement, Denver Water will file an amended application in
2006CW255 (Roberts Tunnel) fQr approval of the proposed Roberts Tunnel decree in
Attachment N1 and publish supplemental notice thereof in the Division 5 Water Court.
The Signatories agree that the amended application in Case No. 2006CW255 and the
proposed Roberts Tunnel decree in Attachment N1 are among the mechanisms that will be
used to implement Article III.A.3. If statements of opposition are filed as a result of the
supplemental notice, the Signatories agree to cooperate to resolve any issues raised by such
statements and to finalize the proposed Robert Tunnel decree in 2006 CW255.
1. The Signatories agree that the proposed Roberts Tunnel decree in Attachment NI
will not be presented to the federal court for entry of final judgment until the earlier
of the following:
a. The U. S. Bureau of Reclamation has executed the "separate agreement"
described in Article VI.B.2, pursuant to which it agrees "that if a Shoshone
Outage occurs, it will continue to operate Green Mountain Reservoir as if the
Senior Shoshone Call were on the river."
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 43
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
b. The Signatories agree that the goal of Article VI.C.3 has been achieved, such
that the Signatories, other water users, and the State of Colorado water
administration officials have devised and implemented "a mechanism or
combination of mechanisms that will permanently preserve the Shoshone
Call Flows." If the agreed -upon mechanism requires a water court
application, achievement of the goal for purposes of this paragraph 2.b is
defined as the entry of a final decree approving the mechanism by the water
court, which is no longer subject to appeals.
3. Several provisions of this Agreement are contingent upon the Resolution of Blue
River Decree Issues, which is defined in Article III.A.2 and the Definitions as the
entry of final judgments and decrees no longer subject to appeals in 06CW255 and
03CW039. The Signatories acknowledge that any delay required by Article VII.J.2
above in the entry of a final judgment will cause an equivalent delay in
implementing the various provisions of this Agreement that are contingent upon
Resolution of Blue River Decree Issues.
4. The Signatories acknowledge that they are contractually bound upon the Effective
Date of this Agreement, regardless of any delay in the entry of a -final judgment in
Case No. 06CW255 required by Article VII.J.2 above.
5. The Signatories agree to coordinate and provide reasonable assistance to each other
in obtaining any necessary license, permit or approval to carry out this Agreement,
including those described in this Article VII.J. The Signatories agree that not every
issue and problem can be foreseen and dealt with in advance, and that cooperation
will be needed to handle future events that might impair implementation of particular
provisions of this Agreement. If such an impairment of a particular provision occurs,
the Signatories agree to cooperate in good faith in a reasonable manner to develop
alternative means to accomplish as nearly as possible the desired outcome of the
provision in question.
6. Wherever possible each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted and
implemented in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law. If
any provision or portion of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or
unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect unless
the remaining provision's effectiveness is explicitly dependent upon the invalid or
unenforceable provision. The Signatories agree to reform this Agreement to replace
any such invalid or unenforceable provision with a valid and enforceable provision
that comes as close as possible to the intention of the stricken provision. The
provisions of this Agreement shall be reasonably and liberally construed to achieve
the intent of the Signatories.
K. Venue. Venue for resolution of any dispute of water matters under this Agreement resulting
in litigation shall be the District Court, Colorado, for the appropriate Water Division or
federal district court, as appropriate under the Blue River Decree. Venue for all other
matters under this Agreement resulting in litigation shall be the Colorado District Court for
the county in which any defendant resides.
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 44
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
L. Conflict Resolution. The Signatories agree that if a dispute arises between Denver Water
and a West Slope Signatory, the affected Signatories will confer in good faith and endeavor
to resolve the concern. If the affected Signatories reach an impasse, they will select a
neutral third party mediator who would seek an acceptable voluntary solution to the conflict.
For conflicts that involve a technical or scientific matter, the neutral third party mediator
may select an independent technical or scientific expert, acceptable to the Signatories
involved in the mediation, to review and make a recommendation on the matter. If the
conflict cannot be resolved through the efforts of the mediator, then the affected Signatories
may pursue any available legal or administrative recourse.
M. Information Sharing. The Signatories shall maintain records in accordance with their
normal procedures with regard to their respective obligations under this Agreement, and
shall make such records available to each other upon reasonable request.
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 45
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
Article VIII
Definitions
TERM DEFINITION
1985 Summit Agreement between Summit County Board of Commissioners and
Agreement Denver Water, dated September 19, 1985
1992 Clinton Agreement Clinton Reservoir - Fraser River Water Agreement, dated July 21, 1992
2007 Shoshone Agreement between Denver Water and Public Service Company of
Agreement Colorado d/b /a Xcel Energy, effective January 1, 2007, concerning
reduction of the Shoshone Call
Abstention Provisions a. Abstain permanently from pursuing or participating in any project
that would result in any new depletion from the Colorado River and its
tributaries above the confluence with the Gunnison River, including
without limitation the Eagle River (with the exception of the Eagle River
MOU for Aurora and the Upper Colorado Cooperative Project).
Pursuing or participating in a project means seeking formal approval of
any aspect of a project in a regulatory or judicial forum, but does not
include conducting various planning activities such as feasibility studies.
b. Abstain from pursuing or participating in any project that would
result in diversions from the Colorado River Basin within Water
Divisions Nos. 4 and 6, or downstream from the confluence of the
Gunnison and Colorado Rivers in Water Division No. 5 for a period of
25 years. Pursuing or participating in a project means seeking formal
approval of any aspect of a project in a regulatory or judicial forum, but
does not include conducting various planning activities such as feasibility
studies. This abstention period would be reduced to 15 years if, within
the first 10 years following execution of this agreement, the NEPA
permitting process for the Upper Colorado Cooperative Project has not
been initiated. If construction of a cooperative project commences within
20 years from the date of this agreement, then the abstention period under
this paragraph would be extended for an additional 10 years (a total of 35
years).
Blue River Decree The stipulations, judgments, decrees and orders entered in Consolidated
Civil Nos. 2782, 5016 and 5017, United States District Court, District of
Colorado including determinations of diligence and to make absolute.
Cameo Call A request to the state water officials to curtail diversions of junior water
rights to satisfy any or all of the water rights legally divertible for
irrigation and power purposes at the headgates of the Grand Valley
Prnject'c (Thyernment Highline Canal near Cameo and the Grand Valley
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 46
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
Irrigation Company's Grand Valley Canal near Palisade. The water
rights divertible at these headgates are owned and/or operated by Grand
Valley Irrigation Company, Grand Valley Water Users Association,
Mesa County Irrigation. District, Palisade Irrigation District and Orchard
Mesa Irrigation District and are listed on Exhibits A and B to the
Stipulation and Agreement dated as of September 4, 1996, in the
"Orchard Mesa Check Case," Case No. 91CW247.
Eagle River MOU The agreement effective December 1, 1997 among the Cities of Aurora
and Colorado Springs, Colorado River Water Conservation District,
Cyprus Climax Metals Company, and the Vail Consortium consisting of
the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District, Upper Eagle Regional
Water Authori and Vail Associates, Inc.
Effective Date The first business day at least seven days after the last Signatory has
si ed this A _reement.
Environmental A project that involves aquatic and riparian species habitat protection or
Enhancement Project enhancement; wetland creation or enhancement for (a) mined land
reclamation or (2) other water quality protection; or watershed protection,
including, without limitation, fuel reduction, erosion control or
reve • etation.
Fraser Collection Denver's Water system of diversions, canals, tunnels and other
System infrastructure located in the headwaters of the Fraser River Basin in
Grand County
Grand County Operating Exhibit B to the 1992 Clinton Agreement
Plan
Grand County Water Those entities listed in paragraph 4(c) of the Clinton Agreement
Users
IRP Denver Water's Integrated Resource Plan, prepared pursuant to the
Denver Water Board's October 15, 1996 water resource statement,
published in 1997 and updated in 2002
Issuance and The permits necessary for the Moffat Project are defined to be the 404
Acceptance by Denver permit by the Corps of Engineers; the license amendment by FERC; the
Water of Permits section 4(e) conditions and special use permit by the U. S. Forest Service;
Necessary for the the 401 certification from the Colorado Water Quality Control Division;
Moffat Project and the Boulder County 1041 permit, if one is required. The Denver
Water Board must decide, in its sole discretion, whether to accept the
permits within 6 months after the last final agency action regarding the
permits on this list. If a permit is appealed during the six -month approval
period, the deadline for Denver Water to decide whether to accept the
permits will be extended until 30 days after the final resolution of the
a. i eal. •
Joint Use Project A water supply project located on the East Slope agreed to by Denver
Water and one or more East Slope water suppliers
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 47
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
Moffat Project Denver Water's Moffat Collection System Project, which is the subject
of permit application NWO -2002- 80762 -DEN, filed with the U. S. Army
Corps of Engineers
Moffat Project becomes The capacity of Gross Reservoir has been enlarged, and water has been
operational diverted and stored in the enlarged portion of Gross Reservoir
Resolution of Blue The entry of final judgments and decrees in 06CW255, Water Division 5,
River Decree Issues and in 49 -cv -2782, U.S. District Court, and in 03CW039, Water Division
5, that are no longer subject to appeals, in the form of the proposed
decrees set forth as Attachment N to this Agreement.
Reusable Return Flows Flows that return to the river system after the initial beneficial use of
water, including reusable effluent, which may be reused or successively
used, either directly or by exchange.
Reuse Use of return flows or effluent directly or by exchange for the same or a
different purpose as the initial use.
Senior Shoshone Call A request to the state water officials to curtail diversions of junior water
rights to produce a flow at the Dotsero Gauge of 1250 cfs for power
purposes at the Shoshone Power Plant
Service Area Denver Water's 2010 Service Area as depicted in the map in Attachment
B.
Shoshone Call A request to the state water officials to curtail diversions of junior water
rights to produce a flow at the Dotsero Gauge of 1408 cfs for power
purposes at the Shoshone Power Plant.
Shoshone Junior Rights The water rights decreed for and associated with the Shoshone Power
Plant (aka the Glenwood Power Canal), adjudicated for 158 cfs on
February 7, 1956, with an appropriation date of May 15, 1929.
Shoshone Senior Right The water right decreed for and associated with the Shoshone Power
Plant (aka the Glenwood Power canal), adjudicated for 1,250 cfs on
December 9, 1907 with and appropriation date of January 7, 1902.
Signatories Denver Water, Colorado River Water Conservation District, Middle Park
Water Conservancy District, Boards of County Commissioners of Eagle,
Grand, and Summit Counties, Clinton Reservoir Company, Eagle Park
Reservoir Company, Eagle River Water and Sanitation District, Upper
Eagle Regional Water Authority, Grand Valley Water Users Association,
Orchard Mesa Irrigation District, Ute Water Conservancy District,
Palisade Irrigation District, Mesa County Irrigation District, Grand
Valley Irrigation Company, City of Glenwood Springs, and City of Rifle.
Upper Colorado A water supply project located on the West Slope, agreed to by Denver
Cooperative Project Water and the West Slope Signatories to this Agreement, and designed to
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 48
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
•
produce water for use on the East and West Slopes, including at least
20,000 acre -feet of average annual diversions for use on the East Slope.
West Slope Charge A per- acre -foot charge that East Slope recipients of water under Articles
LB.1, I.B.2.e, and LB.3 agree to pay into the West Slope Fund, to be
collected by Denver Water pursuant to a West Slope Charge Agreement,
in substantially the form of Attachment D. The payment will be
equivalent to the stated percentage of the rate charged to the recipient by
Denver Water.
West Slope Fund A fund to be established by December 31, 2011 to serve as the depository
of payments of the West Slope Charge. The West Slope Fund will be
managed by the Colorado River Water Conservation District, or other
trustee acceptable to the parties, and will be used solely for water supply,
watershed and water quality projects that benefit the West Slope. No
money from the West Slope Fund may be used for litigation costs.
a. One -fifth of the West Slope Charge imposed under Articles LB.1 and
I.B.2.e, or 2.5% of the 12.5% (Forest Restoration Funds) will be
dedicated to accomplishing the following activities in the watersheds in
which Denver Water's facilities in Grand and Summit counties are
located:
• Forest thinning, prescribed fire, tree planting, riparian vegetation
improvements, road decommissioning, road improvements, mine
reclamation, and other forest and watershed health treatments
that benefit water flows or water quality within and below the
watershed; and
• Aquatic restoration or improvement activities that address
sediment loading or other water flow or water quality issues
caused directly or indirectly by the pine beetle infestation or
other forest health issues.
b. The Forest Restoration Funds shall be split equally into two interest -
bearing accounts, one for Summit County and one for Grand County, to
be managed by the River District. The River District shall distribute
Forest Restoration Funds from the accounts as directed by the counties.
c. During the term of the Memorandum of Understanding between
Denver Water and the USDA, Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region
(USFS) dated July 29, 2010 (MOU), the Forest Restoration Funds shall
be used for projects consistent with USFS activities in the Sulphur and
Dillon Ranger Districts that are included in the August 19, 2010 5 -Year
Operating Plan that supports the MOU, as determined by agreement
between Denver Water and the Board of County Commissioners of each
county for projects located in that county. This use of Forest Restoration
Funds will he in addition to, and will not reduce the total amount of
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 49
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
planned contributions of Denver Water and USFS under the MOU and
the Operating Plan. The Forest Restoration Funds may be used on non -
USFS lands.
d. Following termination of the MOU, Forest Restoration Funds from
• Grand County's account will be added to the resources available for use
in the Learning by Doing Cooperative Effort established in Article
III.E.6. Decisions on how best to use the funds will follow the decision
process outlined in the Learning by Doing IGA. The use of Forest
Restoration Funds from Summit County's account will be determined by
agreement between Summit County and Denver Water.
Each signatory must conduct the approval
processes required by its ordinances, 50
regulations or bylaws before deciding whether
to execute this proposed.agreement, which is
subject to minor wording changes.
Colorado River Cooperative Agreement
. Counterpart Signature Page
•
BOA • 1 • COMMISSIO' RS OF EAGLE RIVER WATER AND
EA(. LE CO NTY al SANITATION DISTRICT /
By: 4� 42 By: /
Chairm. • • . Tem -�� Chairman of the Board of Directors
AND IT ATTORNEYS AND ITS ATTORNEYS
By: By:6e0 .1 4-4
Glenn E. Porzak
Porzak Browning & Bushong LLP
UPPER EAGLE REGIONAL WATER EAGLE PARK RESERVOIR
AUTHORITY COMPANY
off •
_,_,_ _
By: r . By: le A
Chai man of the Board of r'rector President
AND ITS ATTORNEYS AND ITS ATTORNEYS
•
By: C /� By: i, �� .
Glenn E. Porzak /`
Glenn .Porzak
Porzak Browning & Bushong LLP General Counsel