An all-day Colorado agriculture water summit is set for Tuesday, Nov. 29, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 15200 West 6th Ave. in Golden, CO. Registration can be done online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ibcccawa-agriculture-water-summit-tickets-29025602358.
The event, which will focus on “exploring alternative transfer methods (ATMs) to help alleviate the traditional buy-and-dry of irrigated agriculture per the measurable objectives, goals, and actions detailed in Colorado’s Water Plan,” is being co-hosted by the Inter Basin Compact Committee (IBCC) and the Colorado Ag Water Alliance (CAWA).
A release said, “Discussion at the meeting will provide a dynamic summary of the most promising ATM projects and tools to promote further success in the field that results in measurable water deliveries to meet multiple needs.”
On its website under the event link, http://coagwater.colostate.edu/events.aspx, CAWA posits the following: “A prominent message of the Colorado Water Plan is that we need to find water to meet the gap without harming agriculture — because we need the food and fiber, because we need the cultural richness, and because we need our rural communities.
“On the other hand, the Plan says that agriculture will likely take a hit, because so much of the water we divert in this state is for agriculture. Agricultural producers, their water managers and their communities feel the target on their backs.
“The Colorado Water Plan puts a lot of stock in ways to move water temporarily from agriculture instead of through transfer of water permanently from agriculture. For the past 10 years, CWCB has granted funds to explore the potential of these temporary means—labeled alternative transfer methods (ATMs).
“Now that the Colorado Water Plan has been out for a full year, the IBCC and Colorado Ag Water Alliance are calling for a summit to discuss ATMs. Here are questions to be addressed:
1. What do ag folks think about ATMs?
2. What do urban folks think about ATMs?
3. What do environmental organizations think about ATMs?
4. Who has tried ATMs and what have they learned?
5. What would it take to scale up the use of ATMs to a level sufficient to meet the anticipated portion of the water supply/demand gap that agriculture is being counted on to provide?
The agenda includes a 9:30 a.m. review of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association/CAWA Survey, followed at 10 a.m. by a panel discussion of “Successful Current ATM Projects: Views of Agriculture Producers.” Panel 2 will take up at 11 a.m. to discuss “Successful Current ATM Projects: Views of M&I Participants.”
Following lunch will be a 12:45 Panel 3, “Successful Current ATM Projects: Views of Environmental and Recreational Participants.” Panel 4 will start at 1:30 p.m. and is entitled “Why ATMs: Common Denominators & Obstacles,” followed at 2:15 by Panel 5, “Ongoing Activities, Updates and Legal/Legislative Issues.” A table discussion will start at 3:15, with closing remarks and summary of comments scheduled at 4:45 p.m.
The registration website provides information on hotels with room blocks. You must mention Ag Water Summit when making reservations.
