RRWCD increases program payments to record levels

During its recent meeting, the Republican River Water Conservation District board voted to greatly increase its payments for conservation programs. Wells located in the South Fork Focus Zone will receive the highest increase in payments.

On Aug. 24, 2016, the Republican River Compact Administration signed a resolution granting 100% credit for the water delivered by the Compact Compliance Pipeline. This water is measured at the compact gage on the North Fork Republican River east of Wray.

In exchange for this, Colorado agreed to try to voluntarily retire up to 25,000 acres in the South Fork Republican drainage area known as the South Fork Focus Zone. The deadlines for the retirement of these acres are 10,000 acres retired by the end of 2024 and the remaining 15,000 acres by Dec. 31, 2029.

The RRWCD Conservation Committee had several meetings this summer to discuss how to encourage more retirement of acres in the zone. Currently there are approximately 3,000 retired irrigated acres in the SFFZ since 2016. If 25,000 acres are not retired by the end of 2029, all large-capacity (irrigation, commercial and municipal) wells in the Republican River Basin are in jeopardy of the Colorado Division of Water Resources forcing the wells to shut down.

During the quarterly board meeting Aug. 17, the board voted to approve recommendations from the Conservation Committee to significantly increase payments for retirement of irrigated acres in the SFFZ.

For well owners in the SFFZ who enter a CREP contract with FSA and the RRWCD, it is the intention of the board that they will receive payments per acre from both entities, plus secondary incentive payments from the RRWCD.

During the term of this 15-year contract, the landowner cannot dryland farm or graze the acres. Wells located in the SFFZ will be paid $4,500/irrigated acre retired through the CREP program.

Similarly, for well owners in the SFFZ who enter into an EQIP contract with NRCS, it is the intention of the RRWCD that the well owner will receive payments from NRCS and from RRWCD along with secondary incentive payments from the RRWCD. The landowner may dryland farm or graze the acres. During the term of this five-year contract, wells located in the SFFZ will be paid $3,500/irrigated acre retired through the EQIP program.

The full article is available in our e-Edition. Click here to subscribe.