Colorado Legislature may take sides in Forest Service-ski industry water rights showdown

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Interim committee of Colorado lawmakers to grapple with several water-related bills this week.

Interim review committee to discuss several water measures this week

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Colorado lawmakers may weigh in on a dispute between the ski industry and the U.S. Forest Service with a resolution opposing the federal agency’s efforts to protect publicly owned water rights originating on national forest lands.

The proposed resolution, under review by an interim legislative committee, would oppose a new Forest Service water rights clause in ski area special use permits that would bar resorts from transferring certain water rights to third  parties.

The Forest Service clause also requires ski areas to transfer certain water rights to the United States or to subsequent special permit use holders if a permit is terminated.

The measure is one of several water bills on the agenda during a session of the interim Water Resources Review Committee. The bills will be discussed by lawmakers Thursday (Sept. 27) morning, with public testimony in the afternoon. The session will be streamed on the web. Go to this Colorado Legislature website and click on the House Committee 0112 link. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Environment, politics, water | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Water: Regional runoff picture not so bright

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Lake Powell inflow projected to be less than half of average

Colorado's snowpack is in the red zone.

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By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Federal water managers have significantly lowered their expectations of runoff into Lake Powell this year in the past couple of months, as a lack of spring snowfall and an early snow-melt season combined to shrink the snowpack in the Upper Colorado Basin to just a third of average.

March inflow into the key reservoir was about 10,000 acre feet higher than forecast, mainly due to the early snow-melt season, but still only 84 percent of average. Through July, the inflow is only expected to be 49 percent of average. For the water year, the inflow is now projected to be about 63 percent of average. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, Environment, La Niña, Snow and weather, water | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

Summit County: Old Dillon Reservoir project back on track

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Enlargement project should be done by July 31

The Old Dillon Reservoir construction site. PHOTO BY BOB BERWYN.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — After a temporary hiccup, the $7 million Old Dillon Reservoir enlargement project is set to get back on track with an estimated completion date of July 31, according to county manager Gary Martinez and Dillon water department supervisor Trevor Giles.

If there’s water available in Salt Lick Gulch, officials hope to start filling the reservoir late this summer.

The project, which aims to create more local water storage by expanding the existing reservoir from 62 acre feet to 288 acre feet, was to have been completed by the end of October, 2011, but contractors working on the site got off to a bad start last summer, Martinez said. (more…)

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Colorado: Water providers eye drought measures

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Snowpack levels critically low across Colorado

The snowpack water equivalent has dropped below 50 percent in the Colorado River Basin and stands at 50 percent of average for this date statewide.

SUMMIT COUNTY — After the driest March on record in Colorado, Denver Water and other Front Range water providers may have to consider water-use restrictions during the coming months if the weather stays dry.

Statewide, the snowpack is only 50 percent of the historic average; the Colorado River Basin snowpack is the lowest in the state, at 47 percent. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is showing above average chances for dry weather to continue the next three months, with above average temperatures, which could further debilitate the spring snowpack.

Even those water providers whose storage appears to be in good shape for this year are carefully watching the numbers because if warm dry weather continues through this summer, they may need to stock up for what could be a dry year in 2013, according to the Front Range Water Council.

“During the drought 10 years ago, water providers learned it’s difficult for reservoir storage to survive multiple-year droughts,” said Jim Lochhead, Front Range Water Council chair and CEO/manager of Denver Water. “As a result, municipalities pushed more comprehensive conservation efforts, and we’re seeing those positive results today. But conservation alone is not enough. We need strategies that also include reuse and new supplies,” Lochhead said. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Dillon Reservoir, Environment, Snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Summit County: Will Dillon Reservoir fill this year?

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Denver Water releases outlook for 2012 summer operations; adjusts operations in the north end of its system

The 2012 snowpack (red line) in the Colorado River Basin is trending toward historic low levels.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — If the drier-than-average weather continues the next few weeks, Dillon Reservoir is unlikely to fill this year, although it should come within a couple feet of maximum storage sometime in June.

With average spring precipitation, the reservoir should fill in June, but it’s unlikely there will be enough water to sustain a lengthy rafting season in the Lower Blue, according to Denver Water, which late last week released a detailed outlook for Dillon Reservoir operations.

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NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is calling for higher than average chance for drier- and warmer-than-average conditions for much of Colorado through May, but that general outlook doesn’t tell the whole story, as one or two wet spring storms can significantly alter the runoff picture.

Under a dry scenario, Denver Water expects the reservoir to reach a maximum elevation of about 9,015 feet in June, then drop rather quickly, by about six feet in July and another seven feet by the end of September.

Even under the dry scenario, water levels would remain high enough for reservoir operations through most of the summer. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Environment, rivers, seasons, Summit County news, Summit County snow and weather, water | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Report focuses on value of water to headwaters counties

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Nonconsumptive recreational and environmental values must be factored into the economic equation

Recreational and environmental uses of water in headwaters counties must be accounted for in the development of statewide water policies, according to a report from the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Equitable water policies in Colorado must weigh the economic benefits of nonconsumptive water uses in headwaters counties, a recent report from the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments concludes, pointing out that transmountain diversions are 100 percent consumptive from the standpoint of the basins of origin.

The report, released in January at a Denver water conference, takes a fresh look at the critical importance to the economy of water in West Slope rivers, and why Colorado leaders may want to take careful thought before making future transmountain diversion policy decisions. Visit the NWCCOG website for the full 95-page report. (more…)

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Ski industry sues Forest Service over water rights

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

A water-rights showdown between the U.S. Forest Service and the ski industry is looming in federal district court.

NSAA claims illegal takings; agency says it wants to ensure long-term viability of ski area operations

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — The veneer of partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and the ski industry cracked this week under the weight of a serious disagreement over water rights.

The National Ski Areas Association Monday filed a lawsuit try and block the agency from changing permit language relating to the ownership of water rights associated with the development and operation of ski areas under federal permit.

At stake are millions of dollars worth of water rights that originate on national forest system lands. A dispute over the ownership of those water rights has been simmering since the 1980s, when the Forest Service developed permit language requiring resorts to assign ownership of certain water rights to the federal government. (more…)

Filed under: business, Colorado, Environment, ski industry, Ski Resorts, Summit County news, US Forest Service, water | Tagged: , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Summit County: Blue River flows upped to 1,300 cfs

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Dillon Reservoir could fill in less than 2 weeks at current rate of inflow

Dillon Reservoir is almost full. making for happy sailors — and dogs.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Since reaching its lowest point June 1, the water level in Dillon Reservoir has climbed about 19 feet — averaging a little more than six inches per day. That rate increased a bit in the past few days to about nine inches per day, according Denver Water raw water supply manager Bob Steger, who said Thursday morning that the outflow from the reservoir to the Lower Blue will be increased to 1,300 cubic feet per second.

“We are doing this to slow down the rate of filling and reduce the risk of flooding downstream of the dam. We are hoping we can maintain a steady outflow of 1,300 cfs through the 4th of July,” Steger said via email in an update to local officials. At that rate, the reservoir would fill in about nine days, though that could change depending on daily operations, he added. Currently, the water level is about 5.6 feet below the lip of the spillway. Inflow on June 26 totaled 2,366 acre-feet and Denver Water is diverting about 100 acre feet per day through the Roberts Tunnel. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, flooding, La Niña, seasons, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Dillon Reservoir likely to fill in June, even if spring is dry

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Dillon Reservoir, the centerpiece for Summit County's summer recreation, is likely to fill even the rest of spring brings dry weather.

Denver Water releases latest models for Blue River Basin stream flows, reservoir levels

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Thanks to copious snow in late March and early April, local streams should be running high with runoff well into the spring. Dillon Reservoir is likely to fill sometime in June regardless of spring weather, said Bob Peters, a resource engineer with Denver Water.

Peters last week released the latest forecast models for Blue River Basin streamflows and Dillon Reservoir levels. The only significant change from the previous month is that he expects Dillon Resevoir to fill even if the late spring ends up being drier than average.

Under a dry weather scenario, Dillon would stay almost full through July, then drop about 15 or 16 feet in August and September, with plenty of water for marina operations. And the existing snowpack all but assures that there will be some decent runoff in the Lower Blue, north of Silverthorne, where Denver Water expects flows during June to average about 712 cubic feet per second in June, dropping to about 426 cfs for July (monthly average). (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Dillon Reservoir, Snow and weather, Summit County news, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Water bill would raid Colorado wildlife funds

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

House Bill 1150 would divert up to $50 million from hunting and fishing license funds to water development projects

Colorado needs to manage its water better, but where will the money come from? One new bill would divert dollars from the Colorado Division of Wildlife cash fund from license revenues.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — So far, the State Legislature hasn’t tackled water in the current session, but one measure on the horizon has caught the attention of Colorado hunters and anglers.

House Bill 1150, sponsored by Fort Morgan Republican Jon Becker and set to be introduced in February, would funnel up to $5 million per year for 10 years from Colorado Division of Wildlife funds derived from hunting and fishing licenses and divert them to Colorado Water Conservation Board construction fund for the development of water projects that benefit fisheries and wildlife habitat. (more…)

Filed under: Summit County Colorado, Environment, rivers, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Summit County news, Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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