Coyote Gulch's Colorado Water
The health of our waters is the principal measure of how we live on the land. -- Luna Leopold








































































































































































































































Central Colorado Water Conservancy District

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Sunday, April 27, 2008
 

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Plans for a whitewater park on the San Miguel River are meeting with some opposition from local officials, according to The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. From the article:

San Miguel County open space director Linda Luther thinks it's a bad idea. "People seem to have the impression that the whitewater structures involve a rock or two," Luther said. "From the ones I've seen, you may start out with a rock or two and end up with a significant amount of concrete both in the river and on the bank." If that concrete could also provide erosion control and help restore the river, a river park could be a good idea, said Art Goodtimes, San Miguel County commissioner. Gleason and others who want the park just need to work with other river interest groups, including the county, he said. "They tried to develop plans without being at the table," Goodtimes said. "I applaud their determination and interest, but we need to all work together on this."

The park area proposed by Gleason is at Down Valley Park in Placerville, also called Applebaugh Park, said Lynn Black, San Miguel County manager. She said the commissioners were generally receptive, but questioned the location. "I don't think it should be at Down Valley," Goodtimes said. That area is already high-use, Black said, with a beach-type area for kids, soccer and other sports fields. And it's difficult to separate the high-use areas from the land protected by conservation easements, she said. Gleason could not be reached by phone this week, but the Web site for the San Miguel Whitewater Association at www.sanmiguelwhitewater.org, lists other possible whitewater park locations on the San Miguel River as Winnebago Corner or the Specie Creek boat ramp. Goodtimes said a whitewater park is not a bad idea, but more study is needed.

More Coyote Gulch coverage here.

"colorado river"
8:39:43 AM    


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Here's some snowpack news from The La Junta Tribune-Democrat. From the article:

The Weather Service stated the mountain region of the Arkansas River Basin has experienced approximately 136 percent of average precipitation, and has accumulated 161-percent of average snowpack this water year. "This water-year's precipitation to date, is about 155 percent of last year's," stated the NWS. "At the end of January, average content of the mountain reservoirs in the Arkansas River Basin were 39 percent of capacity. This represents 105 percent of average storage and 117 percent of last year's storage." Officials in the weather agency further state that the U.S. Drought Monitor currently indicates the mountains of southeastern Colorado are not experiencing any drought conditions. "Through the spring months of March, April and May, the Climate Prediction Center outlook indicated increased chances of between 40 and 50 percent of experiencing above normal temperatures and increased chances of between 33 and 40 percent of below normal precipitation for the same period." "It would appear we are falling back slightly from what we were at earlier in the month," observed Don Graffis, a snowpack survey engineer with the Longmont branch office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Office (NRCS). Graffis says that from their most recent measuring trip to stations located across the northern mountains, they observed that most of the northern Front Range is at approximately 90 to 110 percent of snowpack average, depending on the watershed. "The St. Vrain remains one of the lowest in the state," Graffis said. "Boulder Creek is better, and the South Platte, in general, is above average."

Category: Colorado Water
8:28:50 AM    


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Here's a recap of last week's meeting on the Lower Arkansas Watershed Plan, from The La Junta Tribune-Democrat. From the article:

...the major focus of the meeting was the current working document for the Lower Arkansas Watershed Plan, which seeks to improve overall water quality in the basin by addressing a complex interlocking number of factors. "The lower Arkansas River has been determined to be the most saline stream of its size in the United States, due to excessive irrigation, seepage from earthen canals, inadequate drainage facilities and a rising ground water table that leaches underlying geologic marine shale formations, including the Pierre Shale," it was noted in the executive summary accompanying the report. About a dozen people attending the meeting were asked to review the plan and submit any additional comments they might have. The report has been prepared by Southeast Colorado Resource Conservation and Development, a federal entity based in Lamar. It was prepared for the Water Quality Control Division of the Colorado Department of Health and Environment...

Tim Macklin of RC&D in Lamar described the plan as a "living document that can change daily," later adding that it is not "set in stone." Macklin further noted that the river basin has many components and variables. In past months the plan has already incorporated numerous suggestions and changes submitted by interested parties. "We have taken some of your comments and addressed your concerns," said Jim Valliant, the committee chairman and a representative of Colorado State University Extension Service. Valliant noted that many tributaries and sections of the river have been declared salinity impaired. He said the committee working on the plan is working with the state health department to "improve water quality basically throughout the lower Arkansas River, from Pueblo east to the Kansas line...This is a working plan that we hope to grow. It is a starting point," said Valliant. Attendees were asked to submit any comments or recommendations by May 9.

Category: Colorado Water
8:20:49 AM    


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Here's a look at the issues in Fremont County over Colorado Springs' proposed Southern Delivery System route through there, from The Pueblo Chieftain. From the article:

[Katie] McCallister and her husband Jim, both self-employed, built their home on a 40-acre lot with the intention of living off the grid in 1992. They use solar power and haul water. But in late 2005, they learned the Southern Delivery System, a $1.1 billion project spearheaded by Colorado Springs Utilities, could cross their land, Although Colorado Springs prefers a route from Pueblo Dam, which would serve Fountain, Security and Pueblo West as well, perceived difficulties with Pueblo County have prompted a closer look at Fremont County. Nearly everyone who has talked to Colorado Springs Utilities comes away with the impression that the Fremont County route has a 50-50 chance. The Fremont County Commissioners, who frequently hear the concerns of the McCallisters, jumped a little too quickly at a $50,000 agreement with Colorado Springs that paves the way for a pipeline in Fremont County, if that route is chosen, Mrs. McCallister said. "Now, we have the commissioners in bed with Colorado Springs Utilities, making a deal to run the SDS pipeline through Fremont County at the expense of private landowners that it will impact the most, the health of the river and various other entities," she said. "Who are the commissioners working for? Obviously they are not doing this to benefit the citizens of the county. They have had input from myself and other citizens on how we feel about this pipeline."[...]

Later in the day, at the Fremont County Courthouse in Canon City, County Commissioner Mike Stiehl acknowledged there have been questions about SDS, coming from people who live in Penrose, but not necessarily along the route of the pipeline. Although a map of the proposed route of a pipeline hangs on the wall of his office, there is no certainty that it's the route the line will take. The pipeline curves around the west and north sides of Penrose because officials at Fort Carson, which dips into the northeast corner of Fremont County, do not want the pipeline on the south end of the mountain post, Stiehl explained. Even the route marked on the map could change, he said. On the map, the pipeline departs from the headgate of the Lester-Atterbury Ditch, but there are at least three other sites upstream where SDS could divert flows. The decision should be made soon, Stiehl said. "Within the next two months they should apply," Stiehl said. "Our question has been, 'What are you going to apply for?' I don't know if we'd be able to assess the impacts if we don't know where they're going to be." Stiehl, too, thinks chances are 50-50 SDS could locate in Fremont County, which learned of a potential pipeline route in 2005 when Pueblo County difficulties began to grow for Colorado Springs Utilities. "We tend to move quickly when we process things," Stiehl said. "We try not to hold up an applicant."[...]

There have been discussions with other water users in the area about possible benefits. Colorado Springs has talked to the Penrose Water District and Beaver Park Irrigation about possible delivery options, said Lissa Pinello, president of the Penrose district. "They've been proactive in keeping us in the loop," Pinello said. "We've talked informally about moving our water through it, but there have been no commitments so far. They asked us for a letter of interest, but we haven't done that so far. We have a cautious interest in it." Penrose Water still has to complete a water rights change case on water it bought from Fremont County rancher Denzel Goodwin, and is moving ahead in a $9.7 million project to develop a well field to deliver the water. "Our biggest problem is moving it ahead in water court," Pinello said.

In nearby Florence, the goal is to not let SDS damage the city's water intake, the flow past the Eastern Fremont County Sanitation District's outfall and the Florence River Park, said City Manager Tom Piltingsrud. The city has assurances from Colorado Springs that it would divert below the city's intake and continue to meet the requirement of a minimum flow of 190 cubic feet per second past the sewer outfall. Holcim Cement, at Portland, also needs the minimum flow for its water treatment, Piltingsrud said. The Lester-Atterbury diversion is directly across the river from the river park, and Colorado Springs has pledged not to damage the park. There might be a benefit of stabilizing the bank on Florence's side of the river as well, Piltingsrud said.

More Coyote Gulch coverage here.

Category: Colorado Water
8:08:26 AM    

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From The Greeley Tribune: "As part of the 12th annual Children's Water Festival, the CCWCD and the city sponsored a poster contest for fourth-grade students to design a billboard relating to the theme "Water in the West." The festival on May 15 is a free educational event to teach students about water in the West. Thirteen finalists were chosen from hundreds of entries. Out of the 13, Mitchell Sides of Dayspring Christian Academy was the grand prize winner. Mitchell received a $100 savings bond from CCWCD, as well as several gift certificates from area businesses. His billboard can be seen from May 1-30 at U.S. 85 and 39th Street in Evans...The Children's Water Festival on May 15 at Aims Community College in Greeley includes more than 125 professionals in water, agriculture, science, education and government. More than 1,300 fourth-graders from Weld and Adams counties will attend the presentations and see the exhibits. Greeley Mayor Ed Clark will be a guest host for Water Wizards."


7:56:12 AM    

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Here's some background on the Roaring Fork Conservancy from The Aspen Times. From the article:

The Basalt-based nonprofit, which is dedicated to Roaring Fork River watershed issues, hosts everything from guided snowshoe tours on full-moon evenings to wildlife watching and a wildly popular float down the Roaring Fork River. Saturday the organization hosted its 10th annual Fryingpan River Cleanup, enlisting residents to pick up trash along a stretch of the river. The exposure from hosting all those events is one of the keys to success for an organization that depends on public contributions for its financial well-being, said Executive Director Rick Lofaro. The Conservancy was created in 1996 in a collaborative effort between the town of Basalt and Roaring Fork Club, a private golf community that was being reviewed at the time. The Conservancy is an independent nonprofit with a mission to keep adequate water in the watershed's rivers and streams; to keep the waterways healthy; and to keep the riparian habitat intact. To accomplish those goals, it needs to inspire people to explore, value and protect the watershed. That's where the regular lineup of events helps. The Conservancy has conducted about 1,450 education programs with kids and adults since its creation.

But it's not all fun and games for the Conservancy. It taps into science, directly or as a conduit, so it can be an authoritative source on watershed issues ranging from diversions to Colorado's Front Range to water quality in the valley's namesake river at a time of drastic growth. Its direct role includes taking water quality samples at 22 sites in the watershed. When Seven Castles Creek pumped tons of sediment into the Fryingpan River last August, the Conservancy took the lead in hiring experts to study the damage to habitat and recommend possible courses of action.

The Conservancy educates but rarely advocates. It's not the kind of conservation organization that distributes press releases with screaming headlines or enters a fray with all literary barrels blazing. The reasoning is simple, Lofaro said: There's no room in watershed conservation to alienate people and point fingers. "There's either no villain or we're all villains," he said. That approach helps the Conservancy appeal to a broader, more diverse collection of people. And more supporters translates into more contributors...

The River Rendezvous produced about 22 percent of those revenues. The event features a top-notch dinner and dance, with a live and silent auction. The event produced a net income of $129,385 in 2006. This year's event will be July 16...

The Conservancy went from one full-time and three-part time workers for many of its initial years to a current staff of five full-time and three part-time workers. Lofaro joined the organization about one year after it was formed and served in one of the part-time roles. He was hired as executive director in May 2005. The staff includes a director of education programs and two educators, and a person who oversees the water source functions and research. One key focus for the organization now is to help craft a "State of the Watershed" report that looks at many of the water quality and quantity issues. The Conservancy is part of a team working with sponsor Ruedi Water and Power Authority. The report will provide a definitive resource for conditions in the watershed and could help policy makers set courses. "This is your favorite cookbook or owner's manual to your watershed," Lofaro said. It will be out this summer.

Category: Colorado Water
7:50:55 AM    


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The Denver Post has been looking at water treatment costs and needs around the state. From the article:

People in 37 small communities across the state are drinking tap water that violates new health standards for radioactive contaminants, according to state records. Health officials are now trying to help those water systems -- serving 30,000 people -- remove the naturally occurring uranium and radium radionuclides, which pose a threat of cancer and kidney damage. The problem is cost, state and local officials say. A treatment system for Sterling -- the largest of the systems, with 14,000 residents -- could cost $4.5 million to $12 million, town officials estimate. "When you've got a couple million customers tied in, you can afford treatment," said Jack Rycheky, chief of the Environmental Protection Agency's regional drinking water program in Denver. "But if you have 100 people ... treatment is very expensive."

"There is a huge concern in Colorado about radionuclides," said the EPA's Rycheky. The Hillside Trailer Park in La Junta is one of the 37 sites around the state in hot water today. Tests of the park's drinking water last year showed 19.4 picocuries of radium per liter [~] well above the new federal standard of 5 picocuries. About 25 people drink Hillside's water, said trailer park manager Mike Bourget. Bourget said there's no way his investors or residents will put up tens of thousands of dollars to punch a new well or to install a water-treatment system at the trailer park. Since water systems serving fewer than 15 taps aren't regulated, Bourget said he is considering removing a few trailers. "If I got below 15 taps, I don't have to do anything," Bourget said...

The focus on Hillside, Sterling and the other small water purveyors began in January when the EPA tightened health standards on uranium and radium 226 and radium 228, once lumped with other radioactive elements. Under the new standards, uranium is limited to 30 micrograms in a liter of water -- that's 30 parts per billion, or roughly 15 teaspoons in an Olympic-size swimming pool of water. The new radium standard states that the two isotopes combined cannot emit more than more than 5 picocuries of radiation per liter. At the new radium standards, EPA toxicologist Bob Benson said longtime drinkers have an additional risk of dying from cancer of about one in 10,000. Benson's own research, showing how uranium could clog kidneys over many years, helped his agency set its new rules...

With about $50,000 in state funding and $800,000 from the EPA, state health officials are trying to help the systems across the state get uranium and radium out of the water without breaking the bank. This year, state-hired engineers are finishing up visits to each system, studying contamination levels and basic water chemistry, said Ron Falco, manager of the state's drinking-water program. The money is enough for tests and engineering studies but nowhere near enough to set up treatment systems, he said. So next year the state plans to help water providers find grants and loans. The program is modeled after a smaller, $100,000 project launched five years ago to help 31 communities remove naturally occurring arsenic from their drinking water. Today, only three systems -- Alamosa, East Alamosa and Eckley in Yuma County -- still have elevated arsenic levels. All three should come into compliance this year, Falco said...

While removing uranium and radium is "a very difficult and challenging issue," Falco said, some systems -- like the Blue Mountain Water District in the foothills west of Golden -- have done it. In the 1980s, when the EPA first talked about regulating radionu clides, Blue Mountain starting pulling out radioactive minerals, district manager Joe Tamburini said. "We just figured out how to get rid of it, and we did it," said Tamburini, who lives in the district that serves about 300 people. Blue Mountain, however, now has a 50 cubic-foot sand pile to get rid of -- sand from the filter system that has accumulated so much radium it is now considered radioactive, Tamburini said. It could cost $20,000 to $30,000 to dispose of the pile at Hanford, Wash., the nearest site licensed to take the waste, Tamburini said.

Category: Colorado Water
7:41:35 AM    



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