Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Tangle of water projects in Pagosa Springs Here's Part 1 of a series on tangled water issues in Pagosa Springs, from The Pagosa Daily Post. Read the whole thing, there is a lot of detail. Here are a few excerpts: At their regular monthly meeting last Tuesday, July 1, the Pagosa Springs Town Council found themselves trying to untangle two big - and seemingly independent - water issues that have somehow become dependent upon one another as a result of ongoing negotiations with the Springs Resort. The Springs Resort has been leasing the so-called "waste water" from the Town's municipal geothermal heating system since 1995, with the current lease dating from 1997. Recently, the resort proposed that the Town increase its delivery of geothermal mineral water from 200 gallons per minute (200gpm) to "400gpm or the full extent of the Town's maximum usage." That issue has become tangled up with the Town's controversial "river restoration" plan - a plan to remove and relocate numerous grant-funded "Fishing is Fun"" structures added to the San Juan River thirteen years ago by noted hydrologist Dave Rosgen, and build a "white water park"" as designed three years ago by engineer Gary Lacy of Recreational Engineering and Planning (REP)... Going back to square one on the river restoration project [~] which, considering Pagosa's unstable financial situation, might mean the death of that project - might also have ramifications for the Springs Resort negotiations, since the resort's representative Bill Whittington is holding out promises of river easements as part of its negotiating package. At least one of those easements relates to the white water park - and might become moot if the river restoration plan is changed... Dangling in the midst of these two tangled water issues is a Planned Unit Development (PUD) by the Springs Resort - a $250 million expansion project stretching from the resort itself south to the Pagosa Springs Community Center, and including nearly the entire travertine meadow between Hot Springs Boulevard and the curving San Juan River as it heads west and then south out of town. Apparently, Springs Resort representative Bill Whittington wants a blank check from the Town - in regards to his Planned Unit Development (PUD) and also in regards to future water rights sought by the resort - in exchange for several easements that would allow, among other things, the continuation of the REP white water park project. Although Weiler apparently wants the kayak park to go back to the drawing board with a new designer such as Rosgen, the current REP plan apparently has its supporters on the Council... How badly does the Town want to build this controversial kayak park downtown? What would they be willing to give up to the Springs Resort, to support a river project - which, to my knowledge, has never had widespread public support? And how much, exactly, is the Springs Resort asking for, in exchange for easements? Category: Colorado Water 5:51:16 PM     Arkansas Valley Conduit From email from U.S. Senator Ken Salazar's office: Today, at the request of United States Senator Ken Salazar, the Senate Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on S.2974, the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC) Act of 2008. The hearing before the committee, of which Sen. Salazar is a member, is a crucial next step toward making the Arkansas Valley Conduit a reality for the communities in southeastern Colorado that would receive clean, fresh drinking water through the project. Bill Long, President of the Southeastern Water Conservancy District, and Sen. Allard testified before the Committee, joining Senator Salazar in strong support of the legislation. "The bill under consideration today, S.2974, is the product of creative thinking and a great deal of hard work, and represents a novel approach to funding a large-scale water project," said Senator Salazar. "This new source of water will allow southern Colorado communities to reduce existing water treatment costs and better conserve and manage their existing groundwater resources and infrastructure. The conduit will make a real difference in the lives of those who call the Arkansas River Valley their home." The full text of Senator Salazar's remarks can be found here . The Arkansas Valley Conduit, a proposed 130-mile water delivery system from Pueblo Dam to communities throughout the Arkansas River Valley, was originally authorized in 1962 as part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas project. Unfortunately, the authorization did not include a federal-local cost-share provision needed to cover the estimated $300 million in construction costs, and local communities, especially those in southern Colorado, do not have the resources to shoulder 100 percent of the costs. The project has thus remained unfinished for over forty years. S.2974 would provide for a 65-35 federal-local cost-share for completion of the project, with revenues from so-called "excess-capacity" contracts for water storage in other Fry-Ark project facilities being used to fund the majority of the local contribution. This approach is the result of close collaboration between community stakeholders and the Colorado congressional delegation and will ensure communities in the Arkansas River Valley can finance their portion of the project without incurring unbearable financial burdens. Thanks to Coyote Gulch reader Theo for forwarding the email. More Coyote Gulch coverage here. Category: Colorado Water 5:41:29 PM     Improved trout habitat through Canon City? Trout Unlimited is proposing a habitat improvement project on the Arkansas River through Cañon City, according to The Pueblo Chieftain. From the article: The Southern Colorado Greenback Chapter is trying to complete fundraising for the $20,000 project, which will create weirs, "J-hooks" and boulder clusters on the Arkansas River between Ninth Street and Raynolds Avenue in Canon City, said Ted Sillox, project coordinator... Between 170-250 boulders weighing 1.5 to 2 tons each will be put in the river, a relatively flat stretch that flows for about 2 miles through the heart of Canon City. The project is scheduled to get under way in November and is being developed under the direction Greg Policky, aquatic biologist for the Division of Wildlife, and Pete Gallagher of Fin Up Habitat Consultants. "There's not much cover in that portion of the river," Policky said. "There's not many fish and the in-stream cover should help hold the fish. There will also be more cover toward the banks with the J-hooks. The goal is to have more fish and bigger fish. That's why this project's so important." In Pueblo, the Whitewater Park for kayakers Downtown doubles as a fish ladder, and clusters of boulders between the kayak course and Pueblo Dam provide additional shelter for fish. By breaking the flows of the river, habitat for the aquatic insects that fish eat also improves. "The Arkansas River through Canon City could be great for fishing, especially winter fishing," Sillox said. "There are fewer fish per mile, but they're bigger fish."[...] So far, Canon City Metropolitan Parks and Recreation District has contributed $10,000 to the downstream fishery project, while Trout Unlimited has kicked in $5,000. The Collegiate Peaks and Cheyenne Mountain chapters each contributed $1,500. The Southern Colorado Greenback Chapter contributed $1,000 and obtained a grant for $1,000 from Colorado Trout Unlimited. To raise the additional $5,000 needed to purchase boulders, the group is selling chances for guided trips on the Arkansas River by Royal Gorge Anglers, as well as other prizes. Angler's Addiction, a Pueblo business, also is helping with the fundraising effort. The drawing will be Sept. 11. Category: Colorado Water 6:26:41 AM     Northern Integrated Supply Project: Larimer County seeking comments Here's an update about Larimer County's evaluation of the proposed Northern Integrated Supply Project, from The Loveland Reporter-Herald. They write: Larimer County officials, representing a number of different departments and advisory boards, are calling for more information about the proposed Glade Reservoir... Those residents, and those in favor of the reservoir, can speak to the Larimer County Commissioners this Wednesday about the proposed project. The commissioners will then forward their opinions for or against the reservoir to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which will make the final decision. The county officials have already heard from many who work for or represent the county. In written comments, posted on the county's Web site, different boards and departments shared concerns. The Agricultural Advisory Board believes the draft environmental impact statement does not address several important areas, including: - The impact of irrigating with poorer quality water. - The fact that water trades necessary for the project have not been cemented. - The impact of the project on livestock feed supplies. The Parks Advisory Board and Natural Resources Department worry that the new reservoir, which could handle overflow from crowded Horsetooth Reservoir, would not always be full because water is only pulled during peak flows. They also note that managing recreation could be difficult for the county with its already stretched staff, and a new reservoir could affect a proposed kayak park on the Poudre River. The Environmental Advisory Board believes the project will result in the loss of biodiversity and put at risk endangered species including the Bell's twinpod and the Preble's jumping mouse. The Open Lands Advisory Board issued the strongest statement that the proposal does not fit with the county's master plan because it will reduce streamflow and affect plant and wildlife along the river. More Coyote Gulch coverage here and here. Category: Colorado Water 6:17:08 AM     Denver: Algae bloom on Ferril Lake From The Rocky Mountain News: "A gunky green layer of algae has grown over parts of Ferril Lake, leaving the scenic centerpiece of City Park looking ugly just weeks from Denver's turn in the spotlight for the Democratic National Convention. A variety of factors may be contributing to the algae blooms, said Troy Bauder, a water quality specialist with Colorado State University, who cited recent renovations to the lake's fountain, hot weather, nitrogen levels from water taken from the waste-water treatment plant and goose feces." Category: Colorado Water 6:05:07 AM     Grand County to store 1,500 acre feet in Lake Granby for use during low flows on the Colorado Grand County has signed an excess capacity contract with the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District to store some of the town's water in Lake Granby, according to The Sky-Hi Daily News. From the editorial: ...we would like to congratulate the Grand County commissioners for their forward thinking decision last month to pay a subdistrict of Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District so the county can pump excess water into Lake Granby. On Tuesday, June 24, county commissioners voted to spend $57,500 to use the subdistrict's pumps to move 1,500 acre-feet of water into Lake Granby. This is a one-time deal the county took advantage of after Northern and other water rights holders had satisfied their rights and unappropriated water was left in the river. The idea came from Grand County's water engineer Jeff Clark, who brought up the notion at a June meeting with irrigators. Northern agreed to let us pump the water "at cost," asking only for money to cover the cost of electricity. The deal is only good through late summer, when commissioners hope the 1,500 acre-feet can be used to increase river flows for the health of the fish and the river itself, commissioner James Newberry said last week. And while we may see immediate benefits this summer, the true benefits of this decision will be seen in the long term. Category: Colorado Water 6:01:16 AM

© Copyright 2008 John Orr. Last update: 8/1/08; 10:53:34 AM.