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Thursday, September 18, 2008
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We're heading down the highway for a couple of days. We'll be back online tomorrow morning if Internet connectivity works at the hotel and Mrs. Gulch doesn't keep us up dancing until dawn.
7:35:36 AM 
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From The Pueblo Chieftain: "A district court judge on Monday issued a written ruling upholding the legality of last November's voter-approved inclusion of Eastern Fremont County in the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District."
More Coyote Gulch coverage here.
Category: Colorado Water
7:30:11 AM
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From The Pueblo Chieftain: "The Colorado Water Conservation Board came out Tuesday against a proposal to amend the state constitution that would reduce state funding for water projects and a host of other natural resource programs. Amendment 52 would reallocate severance tax revenue from the Department of Natural Resources and put it toward a Legislature-controlled trust fund that would give priority to easing congestion on Interstate 70. In a draft analysis that looked at just the next four years under the measure, the state Legislative Council estimated the measure would swing $226 million toward highway funding. Colorado Department of Natural Resources Director Sherman Harris, speaking as a member of CWCB, said the measure would impair the state's ability to keep up with the $2.7 billion in water infrastructure improvements identified by the Statewide Water Supply Initiative. 'There's a huge need out there for water,' he said. Under the amendment, money for water projects is expected to drop by $44.7 million in 2009, according to the draft analysis."
Category: Colorado Water
7:25:09 AM
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Enough Bessemer Ditch holders decided against the Pueblo Board of Water Works offer earlier in the year for the deal to buy the ditch to fall through. Now it looks like the Pikes Peak Regional Water Authority and the El Paso Water Authority are going to make an offer. PBWW's offer is being reworked and they're still interested, according to The Pueblo Chieftain. From the article:
El Paso County water interests are offering to pay about $10,000 per share in the Bessemer Ditch, a substantial increase from the $6,500-$8,500 per share offered by the Pueblo water board. Agricultural sales on the ditch are generally below $4,000 per share. Like Pueblo, El Paso County is trying to gain a majority interest in the ditch, at least 10,400 shares. The ditch company bylaws would have to be changed to allow the water to be used outside lands irrigated by the ditch. The water rights associated with any transfers would also have to be changed in water court to allow uses beyond agriculture. "On behalf of a variety of interested partners, I am pursuing Bessemer Ditch shares for regional use," said Gary Barber, who represents both the Pikes Peak Regional Water Authority and the El Paso County Water Authority. Colorado Springs Utilities, which is pursuing the Southern Delivery System, is not a member of either group, and is not involved in the Bessemer purchase. SDS partners Fountain and Security are members of the El Paso County group, and Fountain also belongs to the Pikes Peak group. Barber also is chairman of the Arkansas Basin Roundtable and a key figure in ongoing discussions about a potential water authority on the Fountain Creek Vision Task Force. No contracts have been signed so far, Barber said.
El Paso County still does not have a way to move the water, and is still developing ways to store the water in a groundwater basin. The Pikes Peak group has completed a study for a potential pipeline from Stonewall Springs Ranch, near the Pueblo Chemical Depot, where Colorado Springs developers Mark and Jim Morley plan to build reservoirs. Barber said that is only one possibility, and that he is looking for regional solutions to use the water if it can be purchased. "I've long been an advocate of the rotational fallowing model and similar concepts because I believe in them," Barber said. "I'm for continuing agriculture and have supported what I believe are good ideas." A state study in 2006 identified up to 500,000 acre-feet of storage in El Paso County, but Barber said ongoing studies will determine how much is practical. "I'm not hoping for anything close to that, but even 5,000 acre-feet of storage without evaporative loss will help the river," Barber said. "You don't have to believe me, but I'm trying to do something good for the river."
The Pueblo water board Tuesday reaffirmed its decision last year to pursue purchase of more water rights as part of its long-term water resources strategy. "We continue to have an interest in the Bessemer Ditch, which we continue to pursue," said Alan Hamel, executive director of the Pueblo water board. "We continue to respect the shareholders, the owners of the Bessemer water rights. We believe we can be good partners with those who wish to continue to farm." Hamel said the water board's offer is in the best interests of Pueblo County, since the water board has vowed to work to limit the use of Bessemer Ditch water to within the county. Earlier this year, the water board abandoned its offer of $6,500 per share for immediate sales and $8,500 for a 20-year plan because there were few takers. Many said the price was too low, regardless of terms that would allow the water to continue to be used over the 20-year sale period. "We're currently rethinking the price structure," Hamel said, adding it would be premature to release details. "We weren't close enough to the mark." As part of the new plan, the water board is not necessarily looking at buying a controlling interest in the Bessemer Ditch, but would work with the ditch to minimize the impact of sales, Hamel said...
The Bessemer Ditch is Pueblo County's largest ditch, with about 20,000 acres under irrigation, mainly east of Pueblo. The headgate is at Pueblo Dam. From there the ditch runs through Pueblo, crosses the St. Charles Mesa and empties into the Huerfano River 30 miles east. About 2,000 of the ditch's 20,000 shares already are being converted to domestic use in the St. Charles Mesa Water District, mainly as a result of subdividing farmland.
More Coyote Gulch coverage here, here, and here.
Category: Colorado Water
7:19:29 AM
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© Copyright
2008
John Orr.
Last update:
10/1/08; 6:41:42 AM.
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