SOUTH PLATTE

P R O G R A M

W A T E R

Establishing a lasting legacy of abundant clean water for waterfowl, wildlife and people

R E S O U R C E

DUCKS UNLIMITED O F F E R S A S O L U T I O N

Water is an essential resource for life and good health.

It is vitally important for growing crops, manufacturing

products, maintaining households, and sustaining wildlife

habitat. But available water resources are growing thin in

the thirsty state of Colorado, where annual precipitation

ranges between 7 and 16 inches. Growing corn, a

historically irrigated crop in Colorado, requires up to 28

inches of water, placing strong demand on areas like the

South Platte River Basin. In addition to high agricultural

demands, Colorado’s fast growing urban population is

combining to reduce flows in the South Platte to a mere

trickle at times. If the situation is left unaddressed, severe

water shortages could be realized within the next six years.

Demands on Colorado’s water resources are climbing to unsustainable levels as populations grow and economies shift away from agriculture communities. Water rights historically owned by agriculture are being purchased and removed from the land to meet urban and industrial needs, resulting in the degradation and loss of irrigation dependent wetlands. Colorado’s prior appropriation doctrine protects water rights holders from injury due to diminished water supplies but provides no protection for ecosystem function. Without innovative solutions the future of Colorado’s wildlife, people, economies, and cultural traditions are greatly threatened.

Colorado is already struggling to meet the combined

demands for municipal, agricultural, industrial, recreational,

and environmental needs. A recent study indicates that if

Colorado’s population continues to grow as projected, severe

shortfalls could be realized within the next six years. Within

35 years, the state could see a shortfall of up to 196,000 acre-

feet of water, or the equivalent of enough to supply over 1.2

million people. In the late 1800’s when Colorado’s system

of water rights was developed, the majority of water rights

were established for agricultural production, and to this

day, over 80% still remain agriculturally dedicated. Water

used on the fields seeps down into the underlying aquifer,

supplying wetlands and eventually returning to the river.

However, Front Range cities and industries are scrambling to

purchase water rights from agriculture to meet their growing

demands. The Colorado Water Conservation Board predicts

the demands could translate to a loss of up to 267,000

irrigated acres currently under production with South Platte

water. Without innovative solutions, migrating birds will not

have the critical wetland habitat and food plots necessary to

rest and refuel as they head to northern nesting grounds.

Available water

resources are growing

thin in Colorado

and competition

for water is putting

increased pressure on

agriculture, people,

and wildlife.

THE PROBLEM IS GROWING

By taking advantage of river water during periods of low demand, Ducks Unlimited (DU) has an innovative program to supplement agricultural, municipal, and industrial water needs as well as providing critical waterfowl habitat. DU is helping water users develop streamflow augmentation programs through the use of recharge wetlands that can be filled during the spring and winter months when agricultural and urban demands are low but the need for waterfowl migration habitat is high. Water then seeps

through the porous wetland soils and replenishes, or recharges, the underlying aquifer, later supplementing streamflow during periods of high demand. With the use of streamflow augmentation programs, the water that returns to the river generates credits that can be sold or leased to farmers, municipalities, and industry to allow additional water use during periods of peak demand, such as the summer growing season.

Recharge wetlands are located away from the river channel but are designed

to be hydraulically connected to the river via groundwater. Water is pumped

or diverted into the wetlands during periods of low demand on the river.

It then percolates through the porous wetland soils into the underlying

aquifer, and slowly returns underground to the river channel. This retiming

of streamflow, from times of excess to times of shortage, creates credits

that allow junior water rights holders to operate during periods of high

demand, when their use would otherwise be curtailed.

Water users can utilize augmentation credits to operate during periods of high demand on the river, when their water use would otherwise be curtailed. Credits can also be used to promote residential and industrial development.

Benefitting people and waterfowl

Water users earn credits by flooding wetlands during winter and

spring months when demands on the river are low and the

need for waterfowl habitat is high

RECHARGE WETLANDS:

On average, water in the South Platte Basin is usedseven times before it crosses the Nebraska State line

RECYCLING WATER

7

Recharge zone

Groundwater aquifer

Dry zone Water percolates into the aquifer, eventually supplementing streamflow and generating river augmentation credits to offset water use during periods of high demand.

The South Platte River is the main artery responsible for delivering water to the people and wildlife of Northeastern Colorado. During spring and fall migrations, the river serves as an oasis for waterfowl as they utilize the shallow braided system of sloughs and wetlands for critical habitat. Historically, flushing flows driven by spring snowmelt and periodic large rain events maintained the channel by scouring away shallow rooted vegetation and creating shallow water wetlands adjacent to the channel. Today, large flood events occur less frequently and

with lower magnitude as water providers store excess water in offstream reservoirs to support summer irrigation and other uses. With the changing flow regime and development of irrigation throughout the basin, many wetlands critical to waterfowl are now primarily supported by irrigation return flows. South Platte water resources are vitally important to local enterprises and rural economies in the Basin. Agribusiness is responsible for nearly 70,000 jobs in the South Platte Basin and accounts for more

than 30% of the total labor force in most of the rural eastern counties. Three of the top-five agricultural counties in Colorado, in terms of gross sales, are all located in the South Platte River Basin, totaling approximately $2.5 billion in 2007. Current demands on the river range between 1.1 and 1.5 million acre-feet of water per year, or roughly 1 billion gallons per day. With studies projecting the demands from municipalities and industry doubling by 2050 and requiring an additional 400,000 acre-feet annually, careful planning and prudent allocation will be paramount.

T H E S O U T H P L A T T EA critical resource for wildlife and people

Ducks Unlimited’s WATER RESOURCE PROGRAMThe goal of the Water Resources Program at DU is to continue delivering innovative solutions to modern water issues through high quality wetland creation and conservation strategies. Since 1987, DU has been developing partnerships in Colorado with cities, farms, schools, industry, and government agencies to deliver river augmentation projects. Whether independent or in-concert with other recharge

South Platte Basin and Metro Basinprojected water supply gap

Existing supply2050 Identified projects and processes (IPP’s)2050 Gap projection

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facilities, the program has grown to now include over ten successful projects along the South Platte River as of 2015. The projects are complex, often involving multiple landowners and water providers in addition to DU. They range in size from 40 to 300 acres and total more than 2,150 acres of diverse habitat. Individual project costs range from $300,000 to $500,000, with over $2 million invested to date. DU has been highly successful leveraging funds for projects through grants and loans from

other organizations, only incurring an average 10% of the total cost of project delivery. More importantly, DU projects deliver long-term value to our water partners through efficient completion of inexpensive projects. DU’s wetland recharge programs have been providing water during summer months for $14.50/acre-foot over the 30 year life of the project. Most reservoir and storage projects exceed $200/acre-foot, so it’s easy to see why providers want to work with DU.

GREELEY

SOUTH PLATTE WETLAND RECHARGE PROJECTS

Competed wetland recharge projects

Fig 1.

Source: 2015 South Platte Basin Implementation Plan

Water demands in the South Platte basin are steadily increasing and DU’s Water Resource Program aims to provide an effective and efficient compliment to other water management strategies. We envision a program capable of delivering water for municipal and industrial needs, while supporting strong agricultural economies and providing benefit for DU’s mission and objectives. Strong progress into the future will require $2 million in additional support to purchase land and easements for recharge wetlands, secure water rights, and build desperately needed infrastructure. Funds provided to DU can be leveraged into grants and loans worth 15 times more than DU invests. Through DU, you directly provide abundant, clean water for waterfowl, wildlife, and people, the heart of DU’s mission.

P R O G R A M D E V E L O P M E N T

2525 River RoadBismarck, ND 58503-9011

www.ducks.org/ecosystemservices

CONTACT:

Kirk Davidson303-927-1949/kdavidson@ducks.org

Jason Roudebush970-231-8317/jroudebush@ducks.org