From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka):
The conduit could serve more than 40 communities from Pueblo to Lamar. The largest eight are St. Charles Mesa Water District, La Junta, Lamar, Las Animas, Rocky Ford, May Valley, Fowler and Crowley County. They will meet today with the Southeastern district to discuss the next steps in the project…
[Jim Broderick, executive director of the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District] said the local communities are enthusiastic about moving the project ahead, and are concerned about costs, but realize there are possibilities for partnerships. “The cost factor is a surprise,” Broderick said. “When you combine all of the things that are involved, the costs are favorable to getting this accomplished.” The estimated cost of the conduit several years ago was $300 million, and a state loan of $60 million was obtained for 20 percent of the cost. The federal legislation signed by President Barack Obama provides a 65-35 federal split, with revenues from excess-capacity contracts with Reclamation — such as Southern Delivery System, Aurora storage and the Southeastern district’s proposed master contract — paying part of the costs. One of the purposes of today’s meeting is to go over cost estimates and ranges, Broderick said.
While preliminary studies of the conduit indicate there would be a gap between current supplies and future needs, they do not identify how additional supplies would be acquired. [Dale Mauch, a farmer who supports the Arkansas Valley Super Ditch] said that could be an opportunity for farmers. “People ask me why I’m on this bandwagon to support the Super Ditch when I don’t want to lease my water. It’s just that I don’t like the circumstances now, but those circumstances can change if we get drier. It could change in a hurry,” Mauch said. “It’s amazing how everything is all tied together, and it all revolves around water.” Mauch pointed out that some of those who farm in the Lower Arkansas Valley also are served by water districts that provide domestic water and could benefit from the conduit.