Environment: All eyes on the Colorado River

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
The paradox of water in the desert, illustrated by a NASA satellite image of the Colorado River.

The paradox of water in the desert, illustrated by a NASA satellite image of the Colorado River.

Projected water shortages spur more conservation and  collaboration

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — Federal agencies say they will try to offer leadership, technical expertise and — perhaps most importantly — money, as southwestern states grapple with what could be significant water shortages in the Colorado River Basin during the coming decades.

At a major water powwow in California this week, all the major stakeholders in the Colorado River Basin said they’re ready to work together to find a long-term, systematic solution to the potential long-term imbalance between the Colorado River’s future supply and projected demands.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation‘s latest effort outlined three major areas — agricultural conservation and transfers, municipal/industrial conservation and reuse, and environmental flows — that will be the subjects of immediate focus in a series of ongoing work group sessions. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Environment, rivers, water | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper seeks statewide water plan

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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Water pours down the Blue River in the high runoff of July 2011. Bob Berwyn photo.

Governor says state must figure out a way to address impending shortages

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — Colorado water experts will try to figure out how to manage the state’s most precious resource in an era when all signs points to increasing shortages and the potential for growing conflicts within the state and the region over its allocation.

Under an executive order issued this week by Gov. John Hickenlooper, the Colorado Water Conservation Board will lead the effort to address the growing gap between supply and demand. Especially worrisome is the gap in the South Platte Basin, the state’s most populous and at the same time, the most productive agricultural basin.

Hickenlooper acknowledged that the recurring drought could hasten the impacts of the gap between supply and demand, noting that the past two decades have been Colorado’s warmest on record, dating back to the 1890s. Read the order here. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Drought, economy, Environment, politics, rivers, water | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Drought watch: Planning for the future

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Summit County looks ahead …

Summit County’s Straight Creek.

By Karn Stiegelmeier and Gary Martinez

The reality of a drought here in Summit County, the State of Colorado and now nationally may make County residents wonder what is being done locally to ensure the availability of water supplies. Fortunately, the summer monsoon weather cycle has brought much needed rain over the last several weeks and temporarily reduced the fire danger and water demands for some uses.

However, water policy planning, water rights acquisition and resource development take years to implement, requiring political will and significant financial commitments that go well beyond whatever current weather pattern we might be experiencing.

The Board of County Commissioners works in the water arena in two major ways. First, to provide water locally to certain residential, agricultural and commercial customers, and for other projects that benefit the public generally such as the hospital development, environmental restoration, and stream flow enhancement for environmental and recreational purposes.

The County has a long tradition of appropriating and acquiring water resources to meet the current and future needs of its citizens. It has built an extensive water rights and water storage portfolio and has adjudicated a county-wide augmentation plan that provides a legal water supply for out-of-compliance or new residential wells and other water needs. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Dillon Reservoir, Drought, Environment, rivers, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, water | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Denver Water: ‘Use only what you need’

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Drought watch 2012

Denver Water promotes conservation, but new developments along Tower Road, near DIA, still include acres of bluegrass lawn and unsustainable irrigation practices, including sprinkler watering during high winds. Photo by Bob Berwyn.

*Editor’s note: This is one of an occasional series of contributed articles highlighting water conservation efforts in Colorado.

By Jim Lochhead, CEO/Manager of Denver Water

Denver Water is leading the way in water conservation in Colorado, helping customers with an ambitious goal: Use 22 percent less water than before the 2002 drought. And the plan is working. Denver Water customers are using 20 percent less water than they were before 2002 — and there are nearly 10 percent more of them.

Denver Water started promoting water conservation as early as the 1920s, but following the drought of 2002, Denver Water customers embraced a cultural shift in how they value water. One of the primary drivers for this culture change has been Denver Water’s advertising campaign. The campaign helps customers appreciate the value of water by encouraging them to “Use Only What You Need.” A 2011 survey found that almost 95 percent of respondents recognize the advertising campaign.

Aside from the campaign, several programs and rules encourage customers to use water wisely. Large irrigation customers, such as homeowners associations and commercial properties, can earn $6,000 per acre-foot of water saved by developing a plan to cut water use by at least 3 acre-feet a year. In the past five years, Denver Water has signed 68 contracts with those customers (with more in the works), saving an estimated 510 acre-feet of water per year — the annual amount used by roughly 1,275 households. (more…)

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

Colorado: Drought 101

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Starting the conversation …

Frisco Marina, 2002. PHOTO COURTESY DON SATHER.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY —It’s often said that Colorado is always just one dry winter away from a drought, and this year may lend some truth to that maxim. Instead of wrestling with potential flood hazards, resource managers are dusting off their drought plans and trying to figure out how stretch water supplies through what could be a long, hot summer.

As of last week, federal officials designated 98 percent of Colorado into various categories of drought, but what does that mean, exactly? (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Environment, La Niña, rivers, Summit County news, water | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Colorado: Green groups rallying against proposed pipeline

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

The mouth of Sand Creek along the Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument. PHOTO COURTESY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

Teleconference town hall meeting on proposed diversion from the Green River in Wyoming draws thousands of participants

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A plan to divert water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Wyoming drew plenty of public attention last week when a coalition of environmental groups hosted a telephone town hall meeting for 7,400 Colorado residents.

The Flaming Gorge pipeline (sometimes called the Million pipeline) would divert 250,000 acre feet (81 billion gallons) of water from the Green River and pump it across dry Wyoming deserts and over the Continental Divide to the thirsty Front Range of Colorado, where some parts of the South Metro Denver face future water shortages.

By some estimates, the pipeline could cost up to $9 billion to build. More on the project costs in this audio clip.

Conservation groups last week also formally announced their opposition to the proposal, calling it a waste of resources and explaining that there are better ways — including conservation and re-use — to address the constantly growing demand for water. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Environment, rivers, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, water | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Water: Colorado West Slope basin roundtables to meet

Posted on May 26, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Water discussions continue in Colorado

Big picture water questions are on the table at some roundtable meetings in Grand Junction.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Big picture water issues, including the  Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, water banking and the Flaming Gorge pipeline proposal, will be on the table May 26 at the Colorado Basin roundtable meeting in Grand Junction. Click here for more information on the basin roundtables.

One big concern for the regional stakeholder groups is a potentially rapid and severe erosion of agriculture on both sides of the Continental Divide as irrigation rights are converted to meet the demand for new municipal water supplies spurred by continued population growth on the Front Range.

A Colorado Interbasin Compact Committee report suggests that a mix of solutions will be needed to meet the demand, including new water supply development for West Slope and East Slope uses, conservation and agricultural transfers. The idea is to share the burdens and benefits across all water sources and demands, according to a memo prepared in advance of the roundtable session. (more…)

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EPA’s new WaterSense program gaining traction

Posted on November 25, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

Water-efficient homes could save billions of gallons of water — and cut down on utility bills.

First homes to be built to new water efficient standards unveiled in California

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A relatively new EPA water conservation program may start to gain a little traction with the Nov. 24 unveiling of the first WaterSense-labeled homes in the country.

WaterSense is a partnership program sponsored by EPA that seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water. It’s similar to the agency’s Energy Star program, which certifies homes for reaching a certain level of energy efficiency.

WaterSense can helping homebuyers cut their water and energy use while at the same time saving money on utility bills. Four WaterSense-labeled new homes have been built by KB Home in Roseville, California, and will help families save an average of 10,000 gallons of water and at least $100 on utility costs each year.

The EPA estimates that, if the approximately 500,000 new homes built last year had met WaterSense criteria, the homes would save Americans 5 billion gallons of water and more than $50 million in utility bills annually. (more…)

Filed under: Environment, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Summit Voice gets grant for Colorado River reporting

Posted on August 19, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

Our reporting on Colorado River basin water issues includes getting waist-deep into the Snake River at Keystone, where we helped the Colorado Division of Wildlife electroshock and count trout.

Fund for Environmental Journalism helps fund special project; Colorado River District also a key supporter of  multimedia series


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By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Guess what? I’m not just some crazy blogger sitting around in the basement in my underpants, making stuff up. For one thing, I don’t have a basement. And I prefer pajamas.

Plus, the Fund for Environmental Journalism has awarded a grant to Summit Voice to help pay for some in-depth reporting of Colorado River issues, and I figure they checked me out before they decided to fund the project.

Here’s an excerpt from the FEJ award letter:

  • “Yours was one of 31 strong proposals we received and unfortunately funds for distribution were very limited. We allocated $7,800 from the $12,730 donated for the Fund over the last ten months. We are holding the rest and will fund raise for additional for the November round. We did not fully fund any request, and we didn’t have enough funding to give every worthy applicant partial funding.
  • “Criteria employed to make the decision included: how far along the project was and the scope of the project relative to the budget requested and available, whether the FEJ would be the sole funder or just one funder, and potential reach of finished project. The jury rejected proposals where the funding request was to pay the applicant for his or her time.”

First of all, thanks to the FEJ. We’re hoping to bring back some good stories from the headwaters of the mighty Colorado all the way to the Utah border, and we hope readers will appreciate the coverage. Second, big thanks also go to the Colorado River Water Conservation District, which stepped up first to sponsor this reporting.

(more…)

Filed under: Environment, rivers, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments »

Can low-flow toilets save Colorado’s water?

Posted on May 2, 2010 by Bob Berwyn
A pond in Summit County, Colorado.

A pair of bills advancing through the Colorado Legislature will help promote water conservation.

New bills would promote conservation and more accurate accounting of water-saving measures

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Flushing your toilet may not seem like that big of a deal in terms of water savings, but backers of a conservation measure headed for a May 3 Colorado Senate vote say their measure to promote water-efficient appliances and landscaping has the potential to to 2 billion gallons by 2050.

House Bill 1358 is a pro-active piece of legislation that simply requires homebuilders to give buyers the up-front option for various water-saving options, including low-flow toilets and faucets, high-efficiency washing machines, as well as low-water-use landscaping. House Bill 1051 would help water planners collect more accurate information about water efficiency efforts.

Both the measures appear to enjoy widespread support and have bipartisan backing in the State Legislature, although the homebuilding industry opposes HB 1358′s mandatory requirement that buyers be notified of water-wise options for appliances and landscaping.

New homes incorporating water-smart appliances and fixtures could easily use 20 percent less water, said Becky Long, water caucus organizer for the Colorado Environmental Coalition.

If, by 2050, 100,000 new homes are built using water-smart measures, it could save up to 2 billion gallons of water, Long said, explaining that the latest generation of low-flow toilets and other water-saving appliances and fixtures are far improved over earlier models. (more…)

Filed under: rivers, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news | Tagged: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

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