Pipeline for the Republican River Compact

Robbing Peter to pay Paul . . from a non-renewable resource and funded by irrigated farmers

From the Sterling Journal Advocate Sat., Feb. 12, 2008

“On Jan. 22, RRWCD (Republican River Water Conservation District) signed the second of two contracts to purchase designated ground water rights that will produce nearly 15,000 acre-feet of water per year for a Compact Compliance pipeline. The pipeline project, if constructed, will deliver water to the North Fork of the Republican River at the Colorado-Nebraska line, to assist Colorado in complying with the Republican River Compact.

“Also on Jan. 22, the Colorado Water Conservation Board voted unanimously to approve a $60 million loan application by the RRWCD with a 2 percent interest rate over 20 years, to finance the Pipeline project. The loan still requires approval by the Colorado General Assembly, but the application has cleared a major hurdle.

“To assure the Colorado Water Conservation Board that the RRWCD could repay the loan, the RRWCD Board of Directors voted to increase 2008 use fees from $5.50 to $14.50 per irrigated acre on irrigation diversions…….

“In its prior efforts to assist Colorado in complying with the Compact, the RRWCD board reviewed other options, including a project to import water from the South Platte River basin, proposed by South Platte Resources LLC. But the board concluded that the South Platte project would cost three to four times more than the Pipeline project using existing designated ground water rights.

“The South Platte project would also be twice as expensive to operate on an annual basis, and would require a minimum of three to four years to obtain approval of the Division 1 Water Court for a change of use of the water rights offered in the proposal. This would not be in time to prevent curtailment of diversions in the basin.

“ . . . .The RRWCD believes it was fortunate to secure these rights, which are located in a deep, productive part of the Ogallala Aquifer.”