Date: 07/21/2009
Final
Update on Basin Water Issues from Board Members
WATER RESOURCES REVIEW COMMITTEE
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** Senator Isgar was no longer a member of the Committee at the time of this meeting
08:05 AM -- Update on Basin Water Issues from Board Members
Senator Hodge, acting Chair, called the meeting to order and invited members of the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to describe the river basins that they represent and water supply challenges or other issues that they want to bring to the attention of the Water Resources Review Committee.
08:06 AM
Carl Trick II, representing the North Platte Basin, explained that the basin drains the north central portion of the state and includes one small transbasin diversion. The major water use in the basin for irrigation of approximately 120,900 acres. Unlike most river basin in Colorado, the North Platte Basin is not regulated by an interstate compact. He also explained that the basin has received abundant precipitation in the spring of 2009.
08:09 AM
Eric Wilkinson, representing the South Platte Basin and Vice-chair of the CWCB, also representing the South Platte Basin on the Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC), described the activities of the South Platte Roundtable including its use of Water Supply Reserve Account moneys for feasibility studies and other projects. The Water Supply Reserve Account was created by Senate Bill 06-179 to fund projects that address Colorado's water supply needs and support the IBCC process. He explained that the 2004 Statewide Water Supply Initiative determined that the South Platte Basin will need an additional 409,000 acre-feet of water by 2030. Approximately 80 percent of the increased demand is expected to be satisfied by identified projects and processes (IPPs) such as the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) that will provide approximately 40,000 acre-feet annually to growing municipalities in the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. He expressed concern about meeting the remaining demand and responded to questions from the committee about alternatives to meet this demand. He explained that if NISP or other projects are not able to be completed as planned, then additional irrigation water will likely need to be transferred to municipal use.
08:21 AM
Barbara Biggs, representing the City and County of Denver, explained that the Denver Metro region includes almost half of the state’s population and that the Metro Roundtable has been working to address the future water demand. She identified projects and processes to meet this demand including the reallocation of storage space in the Chatfield Reservoir and Aurora's Prairie Waters Project. She also explained that the Arkansas and Metro roundtables have used Water Supply Reserve Account moneys to pay for the Zero Liquid Discharge Pilot Study. This study will help identify alternative methods for disposing of the waste from reverse osmosis water filtration systems that are used to treat lower quality water supplies.
08:24 AM
Reed Dils, representing the Arkansas River Basin, described the settlement of Kansas v. Colorado concerning Colorado's use of the Arkansas River and he identified major water projects in the basin including the Fry-Ark Project that delivers west slope water to irrigators and municipalities in the Southeast Colorado Water Conservancy District. He also described the proposed Arkansas Valley Conduit Project that would deliver higher quality water to municipalities in the lower Arkansas Valley. He explained that the legislature passed Senate Bill 09-141 that created the Fountain Creek Watershed District to fund flood mitigation, water quality improvements, and public recreation projects in the watershed.
08:28 AM
Travis Smith, representing the Rio Grande Basin, described the challenge of complying with the Rio Grande Compact that requires irrigators and other users in the basin to curtail diversions to satisfy water delivery obligations to downstream states. He also described the formation of groundwater management subdistricts to address overuse of groundwater resources in the basin and provided an update on State Engineers rulemaking for wells in the basin. He described the activities of the Rio Grande Basin Roundtable and urged the legislature to fund basin roundtable studies and project through the Water Supply Reserve Account. He also described the proposed Rio Grande Reservoir Project to address water supply needs in the basin and spoke in support of improving stream flow forecasts and satellite monitoring to better manage the state's water resources.
08:37 AM
Bruce Whitehead, representing the San Miguel, Delores, Animas, and San Juan river basins, explained that southwest Colorado experienced an early runoff in 2009 due to the effect of dust on snow. It also experienced a cool dry June, followed by a warm and dry July. He described the activities of the Southwest Basin Roundtable including its efforts to assess future water demand and identify projects and process to address this demand. He explained that construction of the Animas-La Plata Project near Durango is essentially complete and is currently being filled with water pumped from the Animas River. The project will store up to 120,000 acre-feet of water primarily for use by tribal entities. It also includes 10,000 acre-feet of storage space for purchase by the State of Colorado. Mr. Whitehead urged the state to purchase this storage and he responded to questions about potential uses of these waters. Dan McAuliffe, Deputy Director of the CWCB, explained that the CWCB will discuss the potential use of the State pool in the Animas-La Plata Project at its fall meeting.
08:50 AM
Harris Sherman, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, responded to questions about state programs to address the impact of dust on snow. He explained that the Colorado is working with the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Interior to identify land management practices that may be help reduce dust deposition on snow in Colorado. The legislature also approved appropriations in 2007 and 2009 in the CWCB Construction Fund bills to study the effect of dust on snow on the timing of spring runoff.
08:55 AM
John McClow, representing the Gunnison River Basin, described the benefits of the HB 05-1177 that created the roundtables and Interbasin Compact Committee (IBCC). He urged the legislature to continue funding the Water Supply Reserve Account that is used to address Colorado's water needs and support the IBCC process. He explained that WSRA moneys have been used to study the effect of dust on snow and he expressed concern about the effect of early runoff in the Gunnison Basin. For example, in 2009, the runoff occurred prior to the irrigation and rafting season and could not be stored due to lack of storage capacity in basin reservoirs. He explained that the Black Canyon of the Gunnison reserved water right case has been settled and is currently in effect. He also expressed concern about selenium levels in the Gunnison River and the potential impact on endangered species. House Bill 09-1289 appropriated $500,000 for the Upper Colorado Endangered Species Recovery Program including a study of the effect of selenium on endangered species.
09:06 AM
John Redifer, representing the Colorado River Basin, described water supply challenges in the basin and the need for water for nonconsumptive purposes to benefit tourism and the environment. He also explained that consumptive needs in the basin are expected to increase as oil shale development occurs and as oil and gas production increases. Exports from the basin to front range municipalities are also expected to increase. He explained that the Colorado Basin Roundtable is exploring alternatives to federal Wild and Scenic designation for rivers in the basin and urged the legislature to provide moneys for groups seeking to implement these alternatives.
09:10 AM
Jeff Blakesly, representing the Yampa and White river basins and President of the CWCB, explained that he is also a member of Yampa-White-Green Basins Roundtable and described the recent Elkhead Reservoir expansion near Hayden Colorado that provides water for endangered species and other purposes. He also explained that the Yampa-White-Green Basins Roundtable is working to determine future water needs and assess the impact of coalbed methane production on surface and groundwater users in the basin.