MRCDC Member Meeting Report – Jim Beck
Posted February 8, 2011 - 2:36pm by carie.
| Who: |
Jim Beck, Broadwater CD |
| What: |
Greater Gallatin Watershed Council, Annual Meeting |
| Where: |
Holiday Inn, Bozeman, MT |
| When: |
January 26, 2011, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm |
| Why: |
Learn about the cost of new water supplies (municipal and industrial) for front range cities |
| Speakers: |
► Dr. Douglas Kenney, Director, Western Water Policy Program, University of Colorado► Kath Williams, US Building Green Council► Dr. Timothy Fitzgerald. Dept of Ag Economics, MSU, Bozeman |
| Accomplished: |
► Facilities to develop a new water or storage source have a capital cost in the $12,000 - $15,000 per acre-foot range ($0.04 - $0.05 per gallon)► Buying Ag water and converting to municipal use is often less expensive at $10,000► $12,000 per acre-foot, but Ag water is becoming more scarce► Both new development and Ag water conversion have significant operating costs► Water saving measures typically run $5,000 - $6,000 per acre foot with little operating cost► Designing for water savings leaves less reserve capacity in the system for emergencies or changing conditions► There is a fear that available water to develop is becoming scarce and if the infrastructure and legal rights for development are not in place now, they may not be available later► Ag water savings is often difficult to implement because labor is often a much larger portion of the cost than the water |
| Follow Up: |
► None |
|
|
