Water Resources Review Committee (07/18/2013)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

WATER RESOURCES REVIEW COMMITTEE

Date:	07/18/2013	ATTENDANCE

Time:	03:15 PM to 06:15 PM	Brophy	E
		Coram	X
Place:	Western State Colorado University	Giron	X
		Hodge	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Mitsch Bush	X
	Senator Schwartz	Roberts	E
		Sonnenberg	E
This Report was prepared by		Vigil	X
	David Beaujon	Fischer	X
		Schwartz	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Introduction Colorado Water Plan Interbasin Compact Committee Reports Gunnison River Basin Hydroelectric Projects Gunnison River Basin Geothermal Project Watershed Protection Projects Update on Wildland Fires in Colorado Agriculture Water Conservation Measures		Committee discussion only Committee discussion only Committee discussion only Committee discussion only Committee discussion only Committee discussion only Committee discussion only Committee discussion only Committee discussion only

03:15 PM -- Introduction

03:18 PM -- Brad Baca, Interim President, Western State Colorado University (WSCU), welcomed the committee.

03:19 PM -- Colorado Water Plan

03:19 PM -- Mike King, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), described the role of the Upper Colorado Compact Commission and announced that John McClow has been appointed by the Governor to serve on the commission. He described the Governor's Executive Order to the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to create a Colorado Water Plan and described the role of basin roundtables in the development of the plan. He explained the importance of having a water plan and that without an effective plan, the "buy and dry" of agricultural lands will be the default water plan.

03:26 PM -- John Stulp, Special Policy Advisor to the Governor for Water, explained that the CWCB is required to prepare a draft Colorado Water Plan by December 2014 and said that the Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC) will increase meetings to help develop the plan. Mr. Stulp discussed the use of the Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) reports to develop the Colorado water plan and other technical resources that will contribute to the crafting of the water plan. He also talked about how the following issues are integral to the creation of the water plan: "no or low regret" scenario planning, Identified Projects and Processes (IPPs), water storage, water conservation, and agriculture transfers.

03:37 PM -- John McClow, CWCB member, described the role of the CWCB in the development of the Colorado Water Plan. Mr. McClow invited interested persons to participate in the development of the plan through basin roundtables or by submitting comments directly to the CWCB.

03:41 PM -- Director King responded to questions from the committee about the role of the legislature in the development of the Colorado Water Plan including interim reports to the Water Resources Review Committee and consultations with individual legislators. Mr. Stulp explained that the legislature has participated in the development of the water plan by creating the IBCC and basin roundtables and by authorizing water studies including alternatives to agricultural water transfers.

03:45 PM -- Interbasin Compact Committee Reports

03:45 PM -- Mr. Stulp described the development of alternative agricultural water transfer methods (ATMs) and IPPs. He responded to questions about the role of other state agencies in the development of the water plan and efforts to increase collaboration between these agencies to facilitate the development of water projects.

04:00 PM -- Gunnison River Basin

04:00 PM -- Mr. McClow provided an overview of the Gunnison River Basin including major water storage and diversion projects such as the Taylor Park Reservoir and the Curricante water project. Mr. McClow discussed water usage in both the upper and lower basins including agricultural diversions, irrigation practices, municipal water providers, domestic wells, recreational water resources, and the water used by coal mines and hydroelectric generation facilities. He also talked about recent challenges faced by the Gunnison River Basin including quantification of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison water right, reoperation of the Aspinal Unit to protect endangered fish in the Gunnison river, and selenium control measures. Mr. McClow discussed long-term challenges including projected growth and interstate compact compliance. He said that the projected population growth of the Gunnison River Basin is currently estimated to increase by 82% by 2030 and that to meet future water needs the basin will need approximately 15,000 acre-feet of water per year. Mr. McClow also discussed challenges that the Gunnison River Basin faces regarding Colorado River Compact compliance. In response to questions from the committee, Mr. McClow described the activities of the Gunnison Basin Roundtable and the use of Water Supply Reserve Account moneys in the basin for water supply studies and projects.

04:11 PM -- Hydroelectric Projects

04:11 PM -- Mike Berry, Manager, Tri-County Water Conservancy District, described the role of the district and the Dallas Creek Project, which includes the construction of the Ridgway Dam that was completed in 1987. Mr. Berry described water rights owned by the district for municipal and industrial uses as well as for hydroelectric generation. He discussed the hydroelectric power project that is being constructed at the dam, including funding sources, and said that the project is expected to be completed by June 1, 2014. Mr. Berry identified some of the expected benefits of the hydroelectric power project and challenges that have been encountered during construction.

04:28 PM -- Steve Fletcher, Manager, Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association, described the South Canal Hydroelectric Project. Mr. Fletcher talked about the permitting process, cultural resource studies that were conducted, and siting considerations. Mr. Fletcher described the construction process including specifics of how the project was built and how it currently operates. He talked about the use of electric fish deterrents to protect fish that may be impacted by the project, and said that the ribbon cutting ceremony for the project occurred on June 28, 2013.

04:43 PM

In response to questions from the committee, Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Berry described the sale of power from the projects and the use of these revenues.

04:48 PM -- Gunnison River Basin Geothermal Project

04:48 PM -- Jerome "Jerry" Smith, President, Pagosa Verde LLC, described geothermal resources in Colorado and the proposed Pagosa Verde Model Geothermal Power Development in the Gunnison River Basin (Attachment A). Mr. Smith discussed the binary geothermal process and responded to questions from the committee about the permit approval process for the project, including county building permits and county "1041" regulations.

0718AttachmentA.pdf

05:11 PM -- Watershed Protection Projects

05:11 PM -- Camille Richard, Program Director, Lake Fork Valley Conservancy, described watershed protection projects in the Lake Fork Valley including the mitigation of runoff from historic mines and river restoration projects.

05:18 PM -- Harvey Castro, Coal Creek Watershed Coalition, described the water quality monitoring program that is conducted by the coalition. The program tests water at 23 locations along Coal Creek and the resulting data has been used by the Water Quality Control Commission to modify the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements as well as stormwater discharge runoff standards. Mr. Castro described another program to reduce sediment and magnesium chloride runoff from roads into Coal Creek, and an additional project to mitigate erosion near an iron fen to protect the nearby watershed. He also described the coalition's involvement in the Ender sawmill site cleanup, including the relocation of a parking lot to protect nearby wetlands.

05:32 PM -- Update on Wildland Fires in Colorado

05:32 PM -- Kevin Riordan, Acting Deputy Regional Forester, Rocky Mountain Region, United States Forest Service (USFS), discussed characteristics of the wildfires that Colorado is currently experiencing, recent and future challenges that the USFS faces regarding wildfires, and forest management concerns. A map of the West Fork Complex Fire (Attachment B) was distributed to the committee.

0718AttachmentB.pdf

05:43 PM -- Stan Whinnery, Hinsdale County Commissioner, discussed examples of how the state of Colorado interacted with the USFS while fighting various wildfires during the past year. In response to questions from the committee, Mr. Whinnery identified future opportunities for how the state may improve these collaborative efforts and relationships, and described numerous physical, social, and economic challenges faced by rural counties when fighting wildfires.

05:50 PM -- In response to questions from the committee, Travis Smith, Rio Grande Basin representative on the CWCB, discussed the West Fork Complex fire, the progression of beetle kill, and the importance of forest management. Mr. Riordan talked about what can be done to mitigate the threat of wildfire as a result of beetle kill.

05:56 PM -- In response to questions from the committee, Mr. McClow described impacts to land, homes, and watersheds as a result of various wildfires including flood events, erosion, mud slides, and other effects. He also showed pictures of some of these impacts and talked about some of the long term effects of specific wildfires.

06:04 PM -- Agriculture Water Conservation Measures

06:04 PM -- Russell Schnitzer, Trout Unlimited, discussed water use management and conservation.

06:07 PM -- Garin Vorthmann, Colorado Agricultural Water Alliance (CAWA), discussed the ongoing conversations between Colorado's agricultural community and CAWA. She also talked about CAWA's intention to present a progress report to the committee at the Colorado Water Congress summer conference in August.

06:09 PM -- Rio de la Vister, representing herself, talked about the importance of soil health, the far-reaching impacts of healthy soil, and her hope that soil health will be included in the State Water Plan.

06:14 PM

Senator Schwartz discussed letters requesting legislation that the committee has received and the committee's intention to address these requests at future committee meeting in September.

06:15 PM

The committee adjourned.