Article by John Orr
Water – April 2008 – Colorado Central Magazine
San Luis Valley Water News
Climate change and its possible effects on local water supplies were the topic at a recent meeting of the Rio Grande Roundtable. Scientists still can’t predict how global warming will impact local conditions, but featured speaker, Jason Vogel from Stratus Consulting in Boulder, said earlier snowmelt peak flows are expected. And that will influence how water supplies are managed, including the timing for drawing down and filling reservoirs, and flood control considerations.
More intense storms and a changing growing season are also predicted.
Vogel said to expect a slight decrease in the peak flow in the river, but water quality will probably not be affected in a Valley so close to the headwaters. Variability of supply also looms. But Vogel cautioned that managers should avoid dependence on computer modeling when making operational decisions.
Climate change can be likened to a drive from San Francisco to Alamosa. From hour to hour, you don’t notice the change in elevation. But eventually it becomes clear that you are gaining elevation — because Alamosa is a lot higher than San Francisco.
State Engineer Dick Wolfe made a swing through the valley recently and stopped at a meeting of the Rio Grande Water Users Association. His message echoed that of state engineers in the past — make your own rules before the state has to. Wolfe also told attendees, “You know what is going to work best for you to sustain the economy here and keep the aquifer in balance.” He was referring to rules for setting up and regulating groundwater sub-districts.
The Ditch and Reservoir Company Alliance (DARCA) was in San Luis for their annual convention in February. The town was a great location since it’s home to the oldest water right in Colorado, and there are many acequias in the area. Acequias represent a model organization for sharing labor and resources and have worked for 150 years in San Luis and more that four hundred years along the Rio Grande.
The keynote speaker for the convention was Dr. Devon Peña, a professor of anthropology, environmental and Chicano studies at the University of Washington. He maintains that acequias are not merely irrigation ditches but multi-generational communities.
Costilla County Commissioner Joe Gallegos spoke about the tension between acequias and the doctrine of prior appropriation. Prior appropriation calls for shutting down junior rights holders in times of scarcity while the acequia tradition is to share during times of scarcity.
Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel
Much has been written and broadcast about the blockage in the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel. As we go to print Reclamation has begun pumping more water through their treatment plant. Many state, federal and local politicians — when they’re talking to each other and not accusing each other of political grandstanding — have shown up in Leadville for photo ops and meetings. They’re also assuring everyone that they are on the bandwagon. U.S. Representatives Doug Lamborn and Mark Udall have introduced legislation to give the responsibility for draining the tunnel to Reclamation. Senator Ken Salazar’s similar bill, introduced in the U.S. Senate, also promises to fund a water quality study for the river and provide the dough for long-term fixes.
Leadville has lost its liability insurance; motels in town have lost bookings and at least a couple of real estate deals have blown out. Some residents downstream from the tunnel are sleeping easy while others are not. Reclamation had the good sense to test the emergency warning sirens.
Short Takes
* The leaky but venerable Crooked Ditch near Canon City got a shiny new 21st Century plastic interior this winter as crews lined it from stem to stern. The pipeline was built in 1865 of cast concrete in two foot lengths that were then cemented together, which was probably state of the art at the time.
* Dan Crabtree, a water resources group chief for the federal Bureau of Reclamation sums up the feelings of water providers as we go into the spring runoff , “I hesitate to say that the drought is over, but it is for this year.” He adds, “Everything is way up — it’s been a good year.”
* Crested Butte Mountain Resort has filed an application in Division Five Water Court; the resort hopes to fill a proposed reservoir in the North Village development for snowmaking (and paddle boats).
* Don’t forget to check off the Colorado Watershed fund box on your tax return. If the fund does not collect more than $75,000 this year it will lose its place on the return.
* If you’re planning to hit Lake Powell this year, you’ll be happy to note that Reclamation is expecting it to rise 49 feet this year due to the spectacular snowpack in the basins. (There’s no word on whether this estimate includes the large release of water for habitat restoration which commenced on March 5th.)
* HB 08-1280 made it through the House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee on a 10-2 vote. The bill, part of the, “Healthy Rivers Package,” will allow water rights owners to donate water for the maintenance of in-stream flows without fear of being hit with an abandonment.
* State Representative Kathleen Curry was able to tweak HB 08-1141 and get committee approval from the House Local Government Committee. The bill would require a sustainable water supply for new developments. She commented, “We do need to be talking about this to help our state situate itself better for the future, because we do live in an arid environment. It’s a fact of life.”
* Action on HB 08-1330, which would have made water conservancy board positions elected rather than appointed, has been postponed indefinitely by the House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources.
* The bill allowing domestic exempt cisterns, SB 08-119, made it out of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy and was referred to the Appropriations Committee in early March.
John Orr follows water issues at coyotegulch.net Please send story ideas and links to jworr [AT] operamail [DOT] com
