Colorado Water: 2007 in Review
2007 left many water watchers breathless. There was activity all over the state. New storage, new plans for storage, riparian habitat success and additions to whitewater recreation. 2007 saw progress on solving Colorado's long term water outlook through the basin roundtable process and tough negotiations coupled with a view towards statewide cooperation. Changes in weather patterns and runoff worried many. There are many potential demands on Colorado's remaining water, unbridled growth in some communities, agriculture, renewable energy, potential oil shale development, recreation, oil and gas and the water requirements traditional from coal fired generation. All are contributing to future shortage forecasts. For farmers along the South Platte River and Republican River more well shutdowns loomed while the San Luis Valley hoped to avoid involuntary shutdowns with engineering and cooperation. Coloradans started planning for a possible call on the Colorado River from the lower basin states. Douglas County started looking at collecting rainwater for sprinkling needs. We mourned the passing of Anthony Williams, W.D. Farr, Bob Hite and John D. Brown. Nolan Doesken won a 2007 Environmental Hero award from the NOAA for founding the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network.
The Clean Water Act turned thirtyfive in 2007 with calls across the country to roll back recent decisions by the Bush administration regarding the act's enforcement and the realization that 25 percent of rivers and 43 percent of lakes still fail to meet water quality standards. Salinity levels however are declining across the Southwestern U.S. In March we celebrated World Water Day. A report from Colorado State University showed how the thousands of dams in the U.S. have had a detrimental effect on biodiversity, contributing to the ecological homogenization, of our waterways. Commerce City opened their new Wetland Park. Water projects led to the first override of a President Bush veto in November after he decided that the Water Resources Development Act contained too much pork for his liking. In June state water watcher's eyes were on Southern Colorado when the House Water and Power subcommittee met in Pueblo. The meeting was a follow up a February meeting hosted by U.S Representative Grace Napolitano chair of the committee. CloudSAT celebrated it's first birthday and the 6 terabytes of data that has been sent back to earth for scientists to chew on. Glen Canyon Dam turned 50 with calls to decommission it.
Schools in Colorado continued their involvement in researching Colorado's water issues. The Colorado School of Mines set up AQWATEC to give their students research opportunities. CSU put their water resource archive online along with hosting a database on groundwater quality with the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. In April Colorado College hosted their annual conference on the State of the Rockies.
In September Denver University released the findings of the DU Water Futures Panel. The panel was made up of movers and shakers from government and industry. The report included nine key proposals aimed at protecting the state's water resources: Embracing fairness, trust, respect and openness in water supply planning; Encouraging water conservation; Encouraging partnerships between urban and agricultural water users; Eradicating non-native phreatophytes (high water consuming plants, such as tamarisk and Russian Olive); Streamlining the Water Court; Encouraging statewide perspective on water storage and infrastructure projects; Facilitating cooperation between river basins; Planning for potential climate change and drought; Maintaining healthy rivers and in-stream flows. The panel maintains that Colorado will not meet its water needs in the coming decades without collaboration among groups that have historically fought.
A streamline of the state water courts is in the air. In addition to the DU Water Futures Panel Governor Ritter's South Platte River Task Force also recommend the change. Judge Maes, down in Pueblo, is opposed. Colorado Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey appointed a panel to review possible changes asking that they, "identify the issues most critical to the fairness and efficiency of the water court process and make recommendations."
The Interbasin Compact Committee launched a new website in September.
Snowpack early on was pretty good but evaporated for the second year in a row during a warm spring with runoff starting a month earlier that in the past. Reports from the West slope said that the snowmelt was disappearing, "faster than swag at the X games." Chris Treece from the Colorado River District summed up conditions as "crazy warm," echoing drought worries in the Grand Valley.
There was an unusual east-west distribution of snowfall through the winter with the Eastern slope getting most of the storms. The warm and dry spring led to drought conditions in Northeast Colorado in July. Mayor Hickelooper and Mayor Ed Tauer wisely kept up the push for conservation despite record snowfall and reservoir levels . In April the South Platte was a "free river" for a while. In June the Blue River was also declared "free" with stream flow the best in 10 years.
Once again the North American Monsoon bailed out streams and reservoirs. Some scientists maintain the climate change is effecting the monsoon making things wetter across the Southwest in late summer. Others see the possibility that drought will become the norm.
Memories of the recent drought and the continued draw down of the Denver Basin Aquifer System nudged some El Paso water providers to create the Pikes Peak Regional Water Authority. They're looking at solutions, including water from the Arkansas River via Colorado Springs' Southern Delivery System or contracting for water from the proposed Super Ditch, a project designed to fallow irrigated farmland on a rotational basis to prevent the permanent dry up of farms in the valley. Another potential source could be the Stonewall Springs project which includes the Phantom Canyon Project. The promoters are looking to store water and generate electricity.
At the end of the water year reservoir levels across Colorado were sitting at about average but snowpack was low across the state after a dry November. It looked like Colorado was setting up for a typical dry La Niña winter. Forecasters expected the event to last into 2008. There was a big turnaround in December with good snowfall with high moisture content across Colorado. It turned out to be a pretty good water year in the San Luis Valley.
There were three centennial celebrations of note in 2007. The ditch company that brought North Sterling Reservoir into being turned 100 this year. The Greeley Water District celebrated the 100th anniversary of their water works with reservoir tours and other activities, including the "Colorado Water, Liguid Gold," exhibit. The San Luis Valley celebrated 100 Years of San Luis Valley Reservoirs. Events included a daily symposium at Adams State College. Speakers related the history of irrigation in the Valley while also elaborating on the challenges the lie ahead.
Cutthroat recovery in Trappers Lake and Hermosa Creek made the news. A new fish friendly diversion structure was placed on the Gunnison River while construction started on a diversion for the Colorado Pike Minnow at the Price-Stubb Dam on the Colorado River. Turquoise Lake got trout from the Leaville hatchery after the hatchery was declared free of whirling disease. Cheesman Reservoir opened for fishing for the first time since the Hayman Fire in 2002. Antero Reservoir, a victim of drought re-opened on July 17th. Officials finished a habitat enhancement project at the Coller State Wildlife Area.
Demands on wastewater treatment and water facilities caused many local organizations to raise rates, upgrade and build new facilities. Estimates are as high as $2.3 billion for infrastructure needs in the state. Aurora continued building Prairie Waters stirring up residents with hikes in water rates to cover costs. Reuse was in the news as Colorado Springs brought their J.D. Phillips Water Reclamation Facility online and the first timid steps towards using gray water took hold up in Boulder County. Western Resource Advocates issued a report about municipal water consumption along the Front Range.
Reclamation welcomed a new area manager, Mike Collins. He gets to deal with the Aurora Long-Term Contract lawsuit along with another lawsuit filed by the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District over payments for municipal deliveries.
Water was on the ballot in 2007. Eastern Fremont County voted to be included in the Upper Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District. At the end of the year the vote was being challenged in court. Up in Aspen the ballot issues were about hydroelectric power and funding stormwater improvements.
Troubled Waters
The EPA awarded a Targeted Watershed Grant to the Clear Creek Watershed Foundation. The grant celebrated, in a way, the successes in cleaning up the watershed from mine pollution. Mining was also the culprit up in Summit County where they launched a program to restore the Swan River and introduced the Snake River Watershed Plan. In November The Telluride Watch published the Annual State of the San Miguel River Report.
Many water providers struggled with various pollutants during the year. Sterling is battling trihalomethanes at levels above the state minimum. Frisco discovered EDB in one of their wells. Everyone is happy that the well is not connected to the town's water supply but they're interested in solving the mystery of it's origin. In September the Big Thompson Watershed Council presented the findings of their 6 year study of water quality in the river. Agriculture gets much of the blame for problems along the Big Thompson. Also in September an Environment Colorado report was pushing the idea of more state water quality inspectors to help with the decline in water quality over the state.
Paonia's water suffered from turbidity during the summer. Fountain Creek experienced it's now annual high levels of E.coli during the summer as did the South Platte at Confluence Park. Merino informed customers of their system that the water exceeds state levels for uranium.
A report released in December showed high levels of mercury contamination in the San Juan Mountains in Southern Colorado. The Colorado Division of Wildlife updated us on their attempt at understanding the high levels of mercury in Horsetooth Reservoir and Carter Lake in May. The Colorado Department of Public Health warned about mercury in Trinidad Lake and Horseshoe Reservoir in April. In January Totten Reservoir was added to the list as was Purdy Reservoir. In February La Plata County announced a mercury monitoring program for Vallecito Lake and the Los Pinos River and the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission voted for stricter rules for power plant emissions. Also in February Xcel and other state utilities agreed to cut mercury emissions by as much as 80% at some plants.
In December the Avondale Water and Sanitation District was busted working in the Arkansas River without a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. The Environmental Protection Agency ordered them to remove all unauthorized material placed into the river and to restore the river to pre-impact conditions.
At a November meeting of the Legislature's Water Resources Review Committee the Colorado Water Conservation Board presented a plan to study water quality in the Arkansas Valley. In October non-point source pollution was the subject of a lecture in Pueblo. They learned that cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, antibiotics and other household pollutants are now showing up in measurable quantities. In June a report on a study of irrigated land determined that pharmaceuticals present in treated wastewater were measurable in soils.
As costs for fuel for hauling and disposal of septage increase instances of illegal dumping increase. 3 Western Slope Counties worked with haulers to increase regulation so that everyone could play by the same rules.
One rehabilitation success story that received rave reviews in 2007 concerned the Animas River below Silverton. Everyone involved found the middle ground between restoring it to wilderness and the hopelessness of trying to improve things.
Grand Lake
Grand Lake made the news over the summer. The lake's clarity is suffering from algae growth due to the warmer water that is pumped up out of Shadow Mountain Reservoir as part of the Colorado-Big Thomspson Project along with stormwater runoff from the communities in the area. Potential solutions include, shutting down the pumps that draw water into the Alva Adams Tunnel under Rocky Mountain National Park, construction of a different pipeline designed to bypass Grand Lake altogether and a state mandated clarity standard.
Stream temperature regulations
Climate Change and reduced flows in our streams are raising water temperature impacting trout and other species. In 2007 Colorado moved to adopt stricter stream temperature regulations. The new temperature limits are based on scientific studies from laboratory work. The rules include criteria for acute conditions (peak temperatures that can kill fish within days), and for chronic conditions -- warm temperatures that, over a longer period, can impair reproduction and growth. The limits are broken down for different types of fisheries, from high mountain trout streams to lowland ponds and rivers with habitat for completely different species. Any new developments will now have to take into account the new rules from the Colorado Water Quality Control Division.
32nd Annual Colorado Water Workshop
Each year Western State College and the city of Gunnison host the annual Colorado Water Workshop. Discussions this year focused on Colorado's unappropriated water in the Colorado River System. One hot topic was Aaron Million's proposed pipeline to the Front Range from Flaming Gorge Reservoir. One critic mentioned that oil shale development would be a better use of the water while others think that the water will be needed to satisfy the Colorado Compact requirements as climate change reduces flows in the river. Others hope to drain Lake Powell.
Colorado River Call
The possibility of a compact call on the Colorado River was a big topic in 2007. Some accuse West Slope interests of alarmism. Others, including legislators, want to adopt rules now in anticipation of a call. They're especially interested in making any water court decrees after a date certain subordinate to the Colorado Compact. The West Slope is confident that they know who will be ordered to curtail use if push comes to shove between watering crops and recreation or providing water to households in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix and along the Front Range.
South Metro Water Supply Authority
The South Metro Water Supply Authority worked out a water conservation plan early on in 2007. The plan will take care of approximately 75% of their combined needs without tapping new water sources. They also hired former Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Rod Kuharich, as their executive director. Mr. Kuharich has an easy job we're sure since he only needs to find $1 billion to take care of infrastructure and supply problems. Completion of Parker's Rueter-Hess Reservoir is key to their plans.
Conservation
Conservation can take several forms including conservation easements, directed agriculture practices and the reduction of municipal and industrial uses. Some experts feel that subdivisions flow from pipelines. Aurora teamed up with the University of Colorado's Western Water Assessment Program to help the city determine what efforts work most effectively to promote conservation. Colorado Springs continued to bang the drum of conservation despite normal water supply levels.
In January Castle Rock adopted a water conservation plan. Denver joined the EPA's Water Sense Program in July after launching their conservation program, "Use Only What You Need," earlier in the year. Fort Collins started on a plan in October with a call for public input. Orchard City adopted emergency drought rules to deal with the inevitable periodic droughts in the Grand Valley. Centennial released their plan to the public in December.
The San Isabel Ranch was rewarded for their conservation efforts in June with a $10,000 Aldo Leopold Award from The Wildlife Society. In September Trees, Water & People scored an EPA grant for $762,340 to dole out to local watershed groups.
Conservation easements
Conservation easements are a great way to preserve farming and ranchland, the way of life, the riparian environment and the aesthetic aspects of our rivers and streams. In March the Nature Conservancy announced an new easement along the Mancos River that, combined with another 167 acres from an easement from the Montezuma Land Conservancy, brought the total easement acreage along the river to 1,500 acres.
Boulder purchased 259.25 acres along Boulder Creek in Weld county in November along with water rights in the Nelson Reservoir #1 valued at $1.1 million. The conservation easements will cover eight ponds, Boulder Creek, and surrounding stream banks and riparian habitat.
The Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy of Colorado purchased a key piece of land on Saguache Creek known as the Laughlin Gulch Ranch and placed it under a permanent conservation easement. Since 2001, the trust has purchased 14 conservation easements on the irrigated ranches that line Saguache Creek, protecting about 11,000 acres.
Conservation easements monkey business
Who would of thought that anyone would try to beat the state out of tax revenue using conservation easements? Well someone did, so in November the state started an investigation into the practice. The Department of Regulatory Agencies Division of Real Estate issued 30 subpoenas targeting overvalued properties. At least one appraiser's license was suspended. Early on the investigation focused on an Arvada land trust, Noah Conservation. The ranches under investigation included two in Adams County and one each in Elbert, Arapahoe and Huerfano County.
In December state lawmakers started looking at legislation aimed at plugging holes in the conservation easement valuation system starting with a task force to assess the problem and recommend solutions. The task force recommended certification of trusts, more oversight of appraisals, appraiser education, changing confidentiality rules for easements, allowing the Department of Revenue the opportunity to request a review of appraisals that seem out of line all in an attempt to scrutinize the deals earlier in the process. The IRS offered some offenders a deal in December.
Planning
The importance of planning for the future was not lost on communities and organizations across the state.
Over in the Roaring Fork Valley the Watershed Collaborative is looking at keeping the quality and quantity in the river at or above today's levels. The collaborative, sponsored by the Ruedi Water and Power Authority includes The Nature Conservancy, Roaring Fork Conservancy and Colorado River Water Conservation District. The biggest worry in the valley is the old nemesis Front Range water grabs.
The Barr Lake watershed plan, a product of the Barr Lake and Milton Reservoir Watershed Association was released in March. Wellington hoped to reduce the cost of water for the town by crafting a plan to incorporate water from additional sources into their supply mix. Grand Junction is revisiting their plan to see if their dependence on Grand Mesa snowpack leaves them vulnerable to climate change.
Playas
Awareness of the importance of the Great Plains playas to the health of aquifers is growing. Playas also provide critical habitat.
Shoshone Hydroelectric Plant
Water touches everything in the human experience it seems. Early in 2007 there was a failure at the Xcel's Shoshone Hydroelectric Plant in Glenwood Canyon so part of the plant was shutdown for repairs leaving a 1,400 cfs water right to be unused until spring 2008. This had the potential to effect flows through Glenwood Canyon since other rights holders, junior to the 1911 Shoshone water right, could ask for the water subject to their decrees. Less water in the canyon fueled fears of lowered water quality along with less water for rafters. The Colorado Pike Minnow and other endangered species helped out the rafters since a minimums flow of 810 cfs is needed to support their habitat and that's enough for the late summer boating season. Releases from Wolford Mountain, Green Mountain and Ruedi reservoirs contributed to the increased flows. The absence of a Shoshone flow requirement fueled worries that stream flow in the Colorado above Kremmling might not be adequate for trout populations. The late summer rains helped to solve the problem adding to the endangered species stream flow along with the Northern Water Conservancy District bumping releases from Lake Granby. Jim Pokrandt (Colorado River District) said, "Nobody had to go too deep because the rains saved us."
Colorado State Government
Colorado's elected officials can't help themselves when it comes to involvement in water issues. Governor Ritter keynoted the 49th Annual Conference of the Colorado Water Congress and set the theme for his water policy: reuse, shared water use, conservation and additional storage. The governor added that he has sensed a new attitude of collaboration across the state. He shocked some observers in January when he announced, during an interview for The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel that, "I believe the days of the transmountain diversion are over." Harris Sherman amended their position a bit later in the year saying that he, "Believe[s] that the day of the forced transmountain diversion are over."
State lawmakers started hinting at proposed legislation at the summer meeting of the Colorado Water Congress in Steamboat. Constituents can expect legislation that addresses water quality, wastewater treatment funding, water storage projects, a Western Slope water availability study, produced water from oil and gas development and a possible requirement for homebuyers to transfer ownership of their water wells.
State Senator Jim Isgar plans to introduce legislation that would limit the rights of future projects saying, "We're putting the burden on them...If they're so convinced there's excess water and they want to come build a project, let 'em do it. But know that we're not going to let them pump unless there's a certain level of storage available." His bill would limit withdrawals for new projects unless existing storage is at a certain level, say 70%. State Representative Kathleen Curry is sympathetic to the bill saying, "They want to continue to take water out as if there were no chance of a shortage," and calling the bill, "visionary." Steamboat attorney Tom Sharp worried that the legislation would make agriculture more of a target due to early priority of some agricultural decrees. Both sides are coming at the problem as part of the solution to curtailment under a call on the Colorado River.
Curry has developers in her gunsight. She's hoping to convince the legislature to require a sustainable water supply for new developments. Discussions are underway to determine if that would be a 50 year or 100 year supply. Chris Treece from the Colorado River District commented on the proposed legislation saying, "But it's also...that decisions aren't made well in crisis. Our first approach in public policy ought to be not to create the crisis." The hope of the legislation is to prevent water shortages to begin with unlike the development in Douglas and El Paso Counties.
Not all legislation starts out with the lawmakers. Conservationists are hoping that the Democratic majority and a sympathetic governor will pass legislation that will ease the job of keeping water in the streams. HB 07-1012 was signed by Governor Ritter in March. The bill makes it easier for water rights owners to 'loan' water to boost flows in rivers and streams. Under the new law, an owner won't be penalized for abandoning water rights when a loan is made. "[Lenders] won't get credit for it and they won't get a zero for it," said Linda Bassi of the stream and lake protection section of the Colorado Water Conservation Board.
HB 07-1329 made it through the legislative process and Governor Ritter signed it in May. The bill was designed to increase funding for the Water Quality Control Division, enabling the division to hire two new full time inspectors along with establishing and modifying fees paid for various permits by water providers and wastewater dischargers.
Another effort is to increase funding for in-stream rights for the Colorado Water Conservation Board. They have the authority to purchase water to protect fish habitat during low flows but are often junior in priority. Tax credits for water loans are another idea in the works.
The state legislature passed a new law establishing to authority for the formation of groundwater sub-districts in the Rio Grande Water Conservation District. The first sub-district was formed in June and the rules were being challenged in court at year end. The law is an attempt to avoid shutting down groundwater wells involuntarily without compensation.
In January HB 07-1036 was introduced by freshman Jerry Sonnenburg in the legislature. The opposition was led by the Colorado Municipal League and Denver Water. The bill was an attempt to restrict government from condemning water rights as an acquisition strategy. State representative Al White supported the bill in an effort to protect farmers that enter into fallowing agreements saying, "I'll tell you where the problem will come. It will come from these long-term fallowing agreements and long-term water leasing agreements...Imagine if you can, that the city of Colorado Springs acquires a long-term lease right to water. Twenty years from now when that lease expires and the farmer wants his or her water back, is Colorado Springs going to say, 'You know what, we've got plenty of water for our people. We haven't grown in the last 20 years.' You know what folks, it's not going to happen that way. What's going to happen, Colorado Springs will go to the farmer and say, 'I'm going to condemn your water.' That's why we need this bill.'" In support state representative Randy Fischer argued that, "A vote for this bill is a vote for violating the constitution. Eminent domain is seen as a safety net for unforeseen circumstances. This bill leaves (government entities) with no flexibility." The bill did not receive final approval last session. The last entry on the legislative website reads, "Senate Consideration of First Conference Committee Report result was to adhere."
HB 07-1132, signed by Governor Ritter in March, allows the state water courts to consider water quality and environmental impacts along with water quantity as part of the determination on large permanent transfers. By limiting the scope of the bill to permanent large transfers (greater than 1,000 acre feet) it won support from traditional opponents, including lawmakers from Colorado Springs and Aurora. During debate on the bill state representative Frank McNulty said, "This bill is not about water quality. This bill is about stopping the movement of water throughout the state of Colorado, and I think that's a problem." The primary sponsor in the state house, Buffie McFadyen said, "We've had to go through a lot of trying times and a lot of trying years," to get to this point. She had sponsored similar measure in 2006 only to see it go down by one vote.
HB 07-1341 also made it to the Governor's desk for his signature during 2007. The law revamped the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission along with directing it to consider damage to the land, water and air during the permitting and operation processes.
In April Governor Ritter signed HB 07-1197, sponsored by state representative Randy Fischer, giving counties the right to enforce EPA regulations against polluters. Counties have traditionally relied on state agencies for enforcement.
Governor Ritter made three high-profile political appointments in 2007. In January he named Harris Sherman to lead the Department of Natural Resources. It's Sherman's second time around since he served under former Governor Dick Lamm in the late 70s and early 80s when the two were fighting unsuccessfully for the Narrows Dam.
It took the governor until November to name Dick Wolfe as the new State Engineer. Wolfe, assistant state engineer, was fresh off leading the governor's South Platte River Task Force. He worries about balancing science and demand. Priorities include quantifying of Colorado's remaining water and establishing the legal, administrative and socioeconomic models needed to plan for the future.
The governor chose Jennifer Gimbel to lead the Colorado Water Conservation Board, replacing Rod Kuharich. Under her direction it is expected that the board will look at their duties though a different lens that considers habitat, stream health, recreation and sustainability; an approach that will be less focused on dams and diversions to fuel growth.
Municipal Watersheds, city and county regulation
During 2007 local governments across the state sought to extend regulations in their watersheds. In June the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that counties can impose regulations on the oil and gas industry as long as the regulations do not conflict with the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regulations. In August Grand Junction passed new rules. The appellate court ruling identified eight areas where local government could create regulations: water quality, soil erosion, wildlife and vegetation, livestock, geologic hazards, cultural and historic resources, wildfire protection and recreation and permit duration.
Garfield County also started looking at new rules. The county commissioners included most of the suggestions from an energy industry group called the Garfield County Regulatory Working Group in their revised ordinance while citizen's groups asked for greater separation between wells, open waste pits and homes than the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission's 150 feet, buffer between oil and gas operations and water bodies, tougher standards on emergency preparedness and response, noise control and visual impacts and a water quality protection scheme that requires baseline water quality data and follow-up monitoring as long as the industry operates in the county.
In October Carbondale won a case over regulating pesticides in their watershed. They had instructed local rancher to stop the use of pesticides that were damaging their water supply. Colorado's Watershed Protection Act allows cities and towns to control land use within five miles of their water source.
In November the Colorado Supreme Court agreed to hear the Colorado Mining Association's challenge to Summit County's ban on cyanide heap leeching.
Towards the end of the year Salida started looking at creating a watershed district. Local ranchers worried that the district would negatively impact their operations while the U.S. Forest Service was unsure if activities on federal land could be required to obtain a local permit.
South Platte River Basin
Things along the South Platte River sort of slowed down in 2007 after drought, wildfires and depleted reservoirs. A big problem is silt in the stream and Cheesman Reservoir from the Hayman fire in 2002. Pressure on the stream's water from unbridled growth along the Front Range continues the forecast for more ag dry-ups in the future. U.S. Senator Wayne Allard did his part in the Congress working to secure funding for flow meters and automated data loggers for the stream and for wells to help establish a useage baseline.
The Denver Post highlighted the river from stem to stern in July with a series of articles exploring the basin and the recreation opportunites it provides, Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V and Part VI.
The Greeley Tribune also ran a series on the South Platte in 2007. The opinion pieces focused on the shutdown of wells in the alluvial aquifer and the effects on the economy and water rights along the river. Part I, Part II and Part III.
The Tribune's series was part of the dialogue set up by Governor Ritter's South Platte River Basin Task Force. They delivered their recommendations towards the end of October. The task force included names from state government, agriculture, industry, water providers and local government. It came about from a meeting in Wiggins in March. While the task force was meeting the court case over allowing some wells in the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District's augmentation district was ongoing.
It looks like the effort to allow some irrigators in the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District to begin pumping again has paid off. In November the judge overseeing the district's case ruled that the owners in Central's Weld Augmentation Subdistrict are due a decree for wells covered by the permanent augmentation plan. If things go well some irrigators will be sprinkling again in the spring. Central's attempt to establish a new groundwater basin in the Box Elder drainage to allow irrigators to pump again failed in May.
In July the Army Corps of Engineers chickened out on plans to use excess capacity in Chatfield Reservoir as increased storage for Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock and Aurora. The primary function of the dam as designed is flood control and the high water and "free river" conditions on the Platte through the spring were cited in the delay.
Platte River Cooperative Agreement
2007 was the year to put management practices and money around the South Platte River Agreement signed by Dirk Kempthorne late in 2006. In October the House Natural Resources Committee finally approved some dough with H.R. 1462. They expect to pay half of the $317 million price tag with the other half due from Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado. In September Jerry Kenny was named Executive Director for the project.
Yampa River Basin
In November The Rocky Mountain News highlighted the Yampa River and Erin Light, the first woman to oversee a major Colorado River. She and her crew are instituting measurement procedures for the first time on the river. Holdouts call the regulation a, "nuisance." Light's great-great-uncle was Elwood Mead. He leant his name to Lake Mead on the Colorado River.
The warm dry spring led to a voluntary fishing ban through Steamboat in July.
Yampa Pumpback
The big news along the river was the Yampa Pumpback project proposed by the Northern Colorado Water Conservation District. In September the Yampa/White River and South Platte Roundtables held a joint meeting on neutral turf up in Walden (North Platte Basin). One Northern staffer sees benefit to 5 basins if the project is built. The Yampa will get more storage (500,000 af, near Maybell), the North Platte could get more water (they're not really short), the South Platte can avoid drying up more agriculture. Finally, there may be less pressure on the Arkansas and Colorado rivers by Northern, Aurora and Denver Water if the utilities hold off on developing the rights they own on the Fraser and Eagle. Aurora could avoid moving more water out of basin leaving water in the Arkansas for Colorado Springs to develop. The 227 mile pipeline would cost around $3.2 billion to build. Skeptics wondered whether spending the dough on conservation would be a better investment. Others wonder if the water will be needed for oil shale development or to satisfy Colorado's obligations under the Colorado River Compact. The Friends of the Yampa Web site calls the river "the last, the longest and the largest free-flowing, most intact river system remaining in the West, (and it is) the crown jewel of the Upper Colorado River system."
Gunnison River Basin
News from the Gunnison River Basin early in the year included a proposal for funding to study a possible Blue Mesa Pumpback. As you might well imagine the proposal was met with great skepticism from those that think that a pumpback proposal is premature owing to the fact that most water officials on the West Slope think that available water in all the basins, tributary to the Colorado River, should be quantified prior to building projects in any one basin. Others fear the the the Colorado Water Conservation Board will bypass the Gunnison Basin Roundtable.
In September the Coal Creek Watershed Coalition released their Water Quality Monitoring Report. Everything looks good to go.
All sides in the dispute over stream flow through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park were at it again during the year. Interested parties faced a June 29th deadline to avoid a trial over Judge Brimmer's 2006 decision which the feds decided not to appeal. In July some progress at a settlement was reported as all the parties in the case agreed to a general subordination. This means that all adjudicated water rights in the Upper Gunnison Basin dating before Nov. 11, 1957, and the first 60,000 acre-feet stored in the Aspinall Unit will not be subject to a call for water rights by Black Canyon National Park.
Whitewater Recreation
Whitewater recreation in Colorado is world famous. It is also a big economic generator in several counties. During 2007 there was a lot of progress around the state for areas that wanted to explore and enhance the opportunities from tourism while also increasing the quality of life for locals with job opportunities and recreation.
Down in Durango all sides finally agreed to a deal to let Durango build a whitewater recreation park in the city. There had been many fits and starts in the process but in the end no one got everything they wanted nor did anyone have to give up too much in the deal for a Recreational In-Channel Diversion for the city.
Glenwood Springs started construction on their new whitewater park late in the year. First up was a coffer dam to divert the icy cold winter low flows so that construction of the features in the stream bed could begin. Plans call for a hole feature on the left side of the river, a standing wave on the right side of the river and a mid-stream feature for medium to high water levels along with a small park and landscaping to be added later on. Funding for the project includes dough from the city and Great Outdoors Colorado (keep on buying Lottery and Powerball tickets). Glenwood Springs is a great location for a whitewater park because of the senior rights holders downstream, Xcel's Shoshone power plant and the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Program. These uses keep a high minimum flow in the river throughout the year. The project had to overcome initial opposition from the Hot Springs Lodge and Pool.
In October Siverthorne received their RICD decree. As in Durango all sides were able to reach an agreement prior to trying the case in court.
At the end of the year Palisade was still trying to get approval to build a whitewater park. Endangered species habitat and objections from irrigators are slowing them down. Early in the year Cañon City was studying a whitewater park on the Arkansas through town while Frisco looked at enhancing their park.
Observers were surprised at flows in the Arkansas River early on in 2007. Their predictions of a good season for rafters held up.
Standup Paddling started to catch on near Glenwood Springs. Along Clear Creek riverboarding allowed participants to beat the heat and get a little thrill with a small investment in equipment.
Prairie Waters
Aurora got serious about their $750 million water reuse project dubbed the "Prairie Waters" project this year, the most, "Drought hardened," water project in the state, according to some. This is due to being able to use transbasin water to extinction so it effectively increases their supply by the amount of water they bring from the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, Homestake Project and from the Arkansas River. The project involves building more treatment capacity and then treating water from the South Platte River downstream of Denver, near Brighton. The water will be piped back to their treatment facility near Aurora Reservoir, treated and then mixed into the city's regular distribution system.
Aarron Million's Pipeline
Aaron Million's proposed pipeline was in the news off and on during 2007. He spent part of the year touring various water organization meetings pitching the project. He has some problems though, primarily no water rights as yet, along with opposition from the West Slope. They want to know if there is any water left in the Colorado River system to develop before Million starts pumping. Million's partner Jim Eddy had this to say in December, "The (CRWCD) wants to wait, but waiting is what caused all the problems today."
Rueter-Hess Reservoir
Rueter-Hess reservoir is still a work in progress. Supporters were hoping to receive final approval for the proposed enlargment to include storage for Castle Rock and other municipalities south of Denver. They're still hoping to be online by 2011.
Clear Creek Reservoir
The Pueblo Board of Water Works closed Clear Creek Reservoir in April in order to perform repairs and upgrades to equipment originally installed in 1909. It was re-opened to fishing in December.
Pressure on ditch systems and agriculture
Everyone expects that with 3 million new people forecasted for Colorado that pressure will increase on ditch systems to make up the difference in supply. 2007 saw more acquisition of ditch shares by municipalities to shore up a sustainable supply for the future. In general most of the ditch companies have very old water rights on the rivers they serve, reflecting Colorado's agricultural roots.
In September Florence announced their attempt at purchasing more shares of the Union Ditch to add to the city's supply. Pueblo West wrapped up a water deal for the Hill Ranch and it's average yield of 1,891 af per year in it's ditches with a new decree from water court.
The big news in the Arkansas River Valley was Pueblo and Pueblo West running an end-around the proposed Super Ditch by offering to buy shares of the Bessemer Ditch. The project, put in motion by the Pueblo Board of Water Works caused John Singletary from the Lower Arkansas Water Conservancy District to remark that it's, "Another nail in agriculture's coffin."
Colorado Springs is also growing and estimates are that the additional 450,000 people expected in the Arkansas Valley will dry up another 70,000 acres in addition to the 70,000 (one quarter of land previously irrigated) that have been taken out of production since the 70s.
Augmentation is the name of the game for well irrigators along the South Platte. 2007 saw more interest in augmentation plans. Augmentation is being used by Fraser to supplement flows in the Fraser River and also by the BLM to provide water for the Blanca Wildlife Habitat Area.
Proposed new rules for irrigation efficiency along the Arkansas River pitted Water District 2 engineer Steve Witte against many farmers with questions about the science and the cost of implementing the rules.
Down along the Amity Canal Tri-State Generation plans to use their shares for cooling and steam production for coal-fired electric generation plants north of Holly. In August they filed for a change in water court from agricultural to industrial.
New farming and distribution methods are getting a close look as a way to grow more with less water. Near Montrose the Shavano Conservation District was looking at minimum tillage and efficient sprinkling concluding that those techniques work on a small scale. Along the South Platte River Parker Water and Sanitation partnered with Colorado State University in an experiment to test different cropping techniques. According to Parker's Frank Jaeger, "We're going to squeeze every drop of wet out of every drop of water." Dryland bio-fuel crops are also drawing interest.
Ditch companies aren't always the enemy of good management and sharing. In July the Pine River Irrigation Company and the Southern Ute Tribe announced an agreement to keep more water in the Pine River to help with trout habitat. Trout Unlimited wanted a more restrictive promise from both groups.
Republican River Basin
Due to shortages in deliveries to Nebraska, groundwater irrigators (and members of the recently formed Colorado Agriculture Preservation Association) in the Republican River Basin are facing curtailments and outright shutdowns. Some are proposing to drain Bonny Reservoir in order to eliminate the charge for evaporation under the Republican River Compact. The draining is opposed by sportsmen that use the largest warm-water fishery in Eastern Colorado. Some farmers are on board however. With corn prices going through the roof they don't want their wells shut down. A pipeline was proposed during the year to deliver water to Nebraska at the border just ahead of the | 
