AGENDA: Evolving Regional Frameworks for Ag-to-Urban Water Transfers

The permanent transfer of water from agricultural users to municipalities has become a common feature of water management in several western states. In many cases, these voluntary market‐based transfers provide significant benefits to both the buyers and sellers, but many third parties—including remaining irrigators, rural businesses and communities dependent upon agricultural economies—have been negatively impacted. While some impacts of these so‐called “buy and dry” transfers are largely unavoidable, many can be lessened by temporary arrangements that only shift water to cities in years when municipal supplies are inadequate, such as drought and post‐drought storage recovery, and by consolidating individual farm‐to‐city water transfers within a regional framework where cumulative impacts can be anticipated and mitigated. Additionally, regional water transfer frameworks can potentially reduce the transactions costs (e.g., legal and engineering expenses, approval time) associated with shifting water, making water transfers a more cost‐effective mechanism for cities adapting to the challenges associated with growth and climate variability. In May 2008, the Lower Arkansas Valley “Super Ditch” Company was established to play this role in the active water market in southeastern Colorado, building upon the experiences and innovations of other regions—namely, the Palo Verde Irrigation District in Southern California, and the Fremont‐Madison Irrigation District in Idaho. This workshop will provide a review of the experience in these three regions

AGENDA: Evolving Regional Frameworks for Ag-to-Urban Water Transfers

The permanent transfer of water from agricultural users to municipalities has become a common feature of water management in several western states. In many cases, these voluntary market‐based transfers provide significant benefits to both the buyers and sellers, but many third parties—including remaining irrigators, rural businesses and communities dependent upon agricultural economies—have been negatively impacted. While some impacts of these so‐called “buy and dry” transfers are largely unavoidable, many can be lessened by temporary arrangements that only shift water to cities in years when municipal supplies are inadequate, such as drought and post‐drought storage recovery, and by consolidating individual farm‐to‐city water transfers within a regional framework where cumulative impacts can be anticipated and mitigated. Additionally, regional water transfer frameworks can potentially reduce the transactions costs (e.g., legal and engineering expenses, approval time) associated with shifting water, making water transfers a more cost‐effective mechanism for cities adapting to the challenges associated with growth and climate variability. In May 2008, the Lower Arkansas Valley “Super Ditch” Company was established to play this role in the active water market in southeastern Colorado, building upon the experiences and innovations of other regions—namely, the Palo Verde Irrigation District in Southern California, and the Fremont‐Madison Irrigation District in Idaho. This workshop will provide a review of the experience in these three regions

Native Communities and Climate Change: Protecting Tribal Resources as Part of National Climate Policy: Executive Summary

7 p. : col. ill., mapshttps://scholar.law.colorado.edu/books_reports_studies/1061/thumbnail.jp

AGENDA: Securing Environmental Flows on the Colorado River in an Era of Climate Change: Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities

The Colorado River is the primary surface water resource of the Southwest, providing water to approximately 30 million residents. Studies and policy decisions associated with a recently completed EIS point to an ever-tightening water supply due to longstanding growth pressures exacerbated by significant climate change impacts. Given these trends, how can the river’s environmental needs be satisfied? On March 21st, the Center’s Western Water Policy Program brought together four leading Colorado River experts along with an audience of approximately 70 water professionals to discuss “Securing Environmental Flows on the Colorado River in an Era of Climate Change: Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities.” Presentations by Brad Udall (Director, NOAA/CU Western Water Assessment), Terry Fulp (Deputy Regional Director U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado River Basin), Robert Adler (Professor of Law, University of Utah), and Jennifer Pitt (Senior Resource Analyst, Environmental Defense) provided an overview of the complex issues, and set the stage for the follow-up workshop held later that afternoon. The event was part of the Center’s long-standing “Hot Topics in Natural Resources” series

Native Communities and Climate Change: Protecting Tribal Resources as Part of National Climate Policy: Report

67 p.https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/books_reports_studies/1014/thumbnail.jp

AGENDA: Securing Environmental Flows on the Colorado River in an Era of Climate Change: Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities

The Colorado River is the primary surface water resource of the Southwest, providing water to approximately 30 million residents. Studies and policy decisions associated with a recently completed EIS point to an ever-tightening water supply due to longstanding growth pressures exacerbated by significant climate change impacts. Given these trends, how can the river’s environmental needs be satisfied? On March 21st, the Center’s Western Water Policy Program brought together four leading Colorado River experts along with an audience of approximately 70 water professionals to discuss “Securing Environmental Flows on the Colorado River in an Era of Climate Change: Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities.” Presentations by Brad Udall (Director, NOAA/CU Western Water Assessment), Terry Fulp (Deputy Regional Director U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado River Basin), Robert Adler (Professor of Law, University of Utah), and Jennifer Pitt (Senior Resource Analyst, Environmental Defense) provided an overview of the complex issues, and set the stage for the follow-up workshop held later that afternoon. The event was part of the Center’s long-standing “Hot Topics in Natural Resources” series

Native Communities and Climate Change: Protecting Tribal Resources as Part of National Climate Policy: Executive Summary

7 p. : col. ill., mapshttps://scholar.law.colorado.edu/books_reports_studies/1061/thumbnail.jp

Native Communities and Climate Change: Protecting Tribal Resources as Part of National Climate Policy: Report

67 p.https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/books_reports_studies/1014/thumbnail.jp

AGENDA: Hard Times on the Colorado River: Drought, Growth and the Future of the Compact

Sponsors and Contributors: Colorado Water Conservation Board, Center for Advanced Decision Support for Water and Environmental Systems, Western Water Assessment, CU-CIRES/NOAA, Hydrosphere Resource Consultants, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Colorado Foundation for Water Education, Patrick, Miller & Kropf, P.C., William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The Colorado River is approaching a crossroads. For the first time in its history, satisfying water demands in one state may require curtailing legally-recognized uses in another. This is not the first instance of water shortages in the region, and conflict among the seven Colorado River states is certainly not new. But the potential shortages on the horizon are larger in scale and magnitude than ever seen before, and the regional insurance policy against this sort of catastrophe, the storage reservoirs of Lake Powell and Mead, are being pushed to their limits. Key water decision-makers from throughout the basin will come together to explore a variety of topics pertaining to the Law of the River: the ability of the system to meet water delivery and hydropower obligations, potential impacts of shortages to water users and the environment, and solutions for future management

AGENDA: Water, Climate and Uncertainty: Implications for Western Water Law, Policy, and Management

The swollen creeks of Boulder, Colorado provided a fitting backdrop for the “Water, Climate and Uncertainty” conference at the Natural Resources Law Center of the University of Colorado in June 2003. Recognizing the importance of providing a forum for discussions between water managers, lawyers, policy makers, and scientists, Doug Kenney, the conference\u27s organizer, assumed the responsibility of master of ceremonies, providing thoughtful transitions between speakers and sessions while throwing some humor into the mix. Under his direction, luminaries in the fields of science, law and policy engaged a wide range of issues related to the future of water management. The twenty-fourth annual conference was divided into five sessions. Session One was given the thought-provoking title “The Future Isn’t What It Used to Be,” echoing the words of the inimitable Yogi Berra; the wisdom of the baseball legend with a penchant for paradox was repeatedly invoked during the conference. This first session was further divided into two parts: Western Climate History and Western Climate Future. Session Two, entitled “Science, Policy, Law and Extra-Strength Tylenol,” considered current and future applications of science in policy and law, as well as the headaches attending these applications. The simple title of Session Three, “Basins and Borders,” belied the complexity of issues facing communities from the municipal level up to the international level. The Keynote Lecture that served as an intermission was delivered by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science, Bennett Raley. Session Four, “Additional Perspectives,” aimed at identifying oft’ overlooked voices and issues with respect to water management decisions. Finally, the ambitiously named Fifth Session, “Tying It All Together,” promised as much as it delivered. -- Steve Bailey, National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) See also Mark Shea, Conference Reports: Water Climate and Uncertainty: Implications for Western Water, Law, Policy, and Management, 7 U. Denv. Water L. Rev. 226 (2003)