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Photo - IBWA
Short takes from the week in Colorado water:
Nestle Waters Chaffee County project
On Wednesday the Chaffee County Commissioners deliberated a list of some 47 requirements for Nestle Waters' application to pump 200 acre-feet or so of water and truck it up U.S. 285 to Denver for bottling. Many hope that the commissioners will come to a decision at the next scheduled meeting on August 19.
Included in the requirements for the permit are: wildlife habitat; access; easements; construction; economy; project water supply; water rights; augmentation; traffic; air quality; and a mitigation fund. Water attorney Jim Culichia of Colorado Springs drafted a proposal that aims to make sure that Nestle does not pump during times of low water. His proposed rules would also limit pumping to 200 gallons per minute (16.66 acre-feet per month).
Bruce Whitehead named to replace State Senator Jim Isgar
Senator Jim Isgar has been a steady voice for western slope water users in the legislature for years. He represented his district's interests well with regard to water issues and the continued raid on agricultural water rights to water unbridled growth along Colorado's Front Range. It is his reputation, water knowledge, accomplishments and reasonableness that led President Obama to name him Colorado state director for rural development for the USDA.
The Democratic party vacancy committee thinks they have found a capable replacement for Isgar in Bruce Whitehead. Whitehead is a civil engineer with extensive background in Colorado water having worked for the Colorado Division of Water Resources for 25 years. Governor Ritter appointed him to the Colorado Water Conservation Board in 2008.
Congratulations Mr. Whitehead.
CU installs dual flushing toilets for conservation
The university of Colorado is saving hundreds of thousands of gallons of water over just a few years ago according to a report in the Boulder Daily Camera. Part of the effort is the installation of dual flush toilets. The high-efficiency flushers use 1.6 gallons for a number 2 and .8 gallons for a number 1.
Cyanobacterial toxins testing of Grand County waters
Grand County is monitoring toxins released by blue-green algae. The toxins can effect animals that swim in or drink water effected by blue-green algae blooms.
Some Grand County residents take water directly from surface sources. The county has set up a warning notification system to spread the word if measures of cyanobacterial toxins reach dangerous levels.
Cherokee Metropolitan District loses water rights for 4 wells
The Cherokee Metropolitan District -- in El Paso County -- heard last week that their failure to file timely paperwork on 4 wells has resulted in the water court withdrawing their rights to operate. The wells represent about 20% of the district's capacity.
EPA proposes alternate cleanup plan for California Gulch
The EPA was never happy about the pressure to leave tailings piles exposed in the California Gulch superfund site. Lake County and historical preservationists wanted remnants of Leaville's past, including the tailings piles, preserved against the better judgement of the federal agency.
Last week the EPA floated the idea of changing the cleanup plan. The current plan to route runoff around the tailings piles down Strayhorse Gulch and then to treatment is failing to recover all the contaminated runoff.
Kansas v. Colorado is history
Last week Kansas and Colorado turned the last page on the lawsuit over instream flow in the Arkansas River. Kansas was shorted by well pumping on the Colorado side so they filed the lawsuit. They largely prevailed on the issues and Colorado has altered the pumping rules and is now working on irrigation rules all in an effort to stay in compliance with the Arkansas River Compact.
Next up will be negotiations between the two states to settle the technical operating and accounting procedures.
S. 787: The Clean Water Restoration Act
S. 787 sailed through the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee by a vote of 12 - 7 this week. The bill extends the protections of the Clean Water Act to a wider scope of waters.
Opponents worry about the act's potential to weaken state control over water administration.
Sterling Ranch development files for rainwater catchment permit
The developer hopes to get authorization to utilize rainwater catchments to supplement the development's water supply for irrigation. The permit would be the first authorized under H.B. 09-1129 which was signed into law by Governor Ritter in June. The act authorizes 10 pilot projects to implement rainwater catchments. The goal is to determine the extent of damage to senior water rights holders.
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