State Engineer Dick Wolfe on draining Bonny Reservoir, ‘Draining Bonny Reservoir is a part of our efforts to bring Colorado into compliance with the 1942 Republican River Compact and the 2033 Final Settlement Stipulation’

Here’s are answers to questions about draining Bonny from the State Engineer, from The Yuma Pioneer (Tony Rayl). From the article:

Q: Why weren’t other options considered?
A: Many options were considered, and other steps have been taken to make up for the water shortfall to Kansas. Agencies have reluctantly concluded there are no viable legal or physical options available to bring us into compact compliance that will allow water to be stored in Bonny Reservoir and allow farmers and municipalities to continue pumping their wells…

Q: Why can’t Kansas maintain Bonny Reservoir so water can be released when necessary to its irrigators?
A: We explored many options with Kansas, including ones that would allow the reservoir to remain as a storage facility. Thus far, Kansas has not accepted any of these proposals.

More Republican River basin coverage here and here.

Delta County: Three county commissioners, reps from the BLM the Town of Hotchkiss and conservationists hold meeting to discuss the Gunnison River as a recreation corridor through the county

From The Delta County Independent (Hank Lohmeyer):

The Hartland Dam Reconstruction project has ignited a blaze of local enthusiasm for a long stretch of recreational river. Excitement for the idea was running high last Thursday during a meeting of about 15 people who see river recreation as the next big thing. Represented at the session were the county (three commissioners, planning, and administration), the City of Delta (community development, parks, recreation), the Bureau of Land Management (Gunnison Gorge NCA manager), Town of Hotchkiss, Trout Unlimited, and the NFRIA Conservation Center of Paonia. The group’s idea is to complete a “concept paper” in two weeks that will outline a vision of a river recreation corridor through Delta County. The paper could lead to a planning grant from GOCO…

[County Commissioner Olen Lund] pointed out that there’s a lot of private ownership along the banks of the river, and private owners aren’t always receptive to river floaters and their sometimes inconsiderate ways. A county-sponsored public meeting of river corridor property owners took place in 2006 at the Bill Heddles Recreation Center. That meeting resulted in a deluge of opposition from landowners against promoting river recreation in the county. The meeting fairly stifled any broad discussion of the concept, until now.

Now, with the Hartland Dam reconstruction project connecting the river to boaters above and below Delta, and with the availability of GOCO money for comprehensive river corridor planning, the Gunnison River recreation idea has re-emerged.

More Gunnison River basin coverage here and here.

Cedaredge: The town council’s consultants are recommending a new $3.4 million wastewater treatment facility on Surface Creek

Here’s the release from the Town of Cedaredge via The Delta County Indpendent:

Last March Cedaredge public works director David Smith told the trustees that the wastewater treatment plant exceeded the planning threshold for organic capacity levels three times in the past year, and that now was the time to start planning for a solution.

To that end, the trustees approved JVA Consulting‘s proposal to create planning documents based on the evaluation of the existing wastewater treatment facility and anticipated effluent limits.

McGibbon provided the trustees with an overview regarding the current wastewater needs for the town; an evaluation of the existing treatment facility; organic loading capacities; recommended design alternatives; and future operations of the wastewater treatment plant, including the most cost effective alternatives.

JVA’s recommendation is for the town to build a new mechanical wastewater treatment facility near Surface Creek, with total capital costs projected to be nearly $3.4 million, plus $1.3 million in operational and maintenance costs. McGibbon provided the trustees with a four-year implementation schedule to begin in October, with a startup date for the new facility of December 2015.

More wastewater coverage here.

Telluride Institute Water Education Program director: ‘The San Miguel River is one of the last free-flowing rivers in Colorado, and boasts riparian ecosystems that are home to flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world’

From The Telluride Watch (Martinique Davis):

[Water Education Program] is a free resource for local schools and teachers located in the San Miguel River Watershed. WEP provides full-day and overnight programs directly related to their classroom curriculum and tied to the Colorado State Standards, explains Telluride Institute’s Watershed Education Program Director Laura Kudo.

“The San Miguel River is one of the last free-flowing rivers in Colorado, and boasts riparian ecosystems that are home to flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world,” Kudo says, describing the WEP experience as one that simply cannot be replicated indoors. “This gets students into the real-life classroom… providing unique hands-on learning opportunities.”

On Monday, all 60 of Telluride’s seventh graders explored their eye-popping, real-life classroom, listening to the barks of resident prairie dogs, seeing the handiwork of dam-building beavers and getting a quick history lesson about the Valley Floor and the San Miguel River from Telluride Open Space Commission and Town Councilmembers Bob Saunders and David Oyster.

“We’re witnessing the return of these prairie dogs’ natural predators,” Saunders told the group, as they stood watching the critters peek up out of their dens and scurry to new holes, referring to the recent emergence of badgers on the Valley Floor, and the raptors drawn to its recently erected Raptor Poles…

The tour features local speakers and experts like State of Colorado Department of Natural Resource’s Camille Price and Idarado Mining Co.’s Joe Smart, Town of Telluride’s Program Manager Lance McDonald and San Miguel County Parks Supervisor Rich Hamilton, as well as the Telluride Institute’s Kudo. The speakers share their knowledge about the area’s natural, cultural, and human history, watershed geography, regional geology, and river ecology, Kudo says, the purpose of which is “to inform the students that live in our Watershed how people and places interact with and shape one another, and why this interdependence is important and relevant to them.”

More education coverage here.

Castle Rock is pushing conservation on their website CRconserve.com, a resource for residents

From the Town of Castle Rock — Utilitiess via Castle Rock News Press:

Water conservation is something every resident needs to understand. It’s simple. It’s smart. Small, everyday decisions can add up to enormous water savings and allow our community to maintain its economic strength and quality of life.

Castle Rock is located in Colorado’s high-plains, semi-arid environment. The Town averages only 8 to 15 inches of precipitation a year. Because of this, every drop counts – whether it’s pumped fresh from a well and delivered to your home, or saved through reduced indoor and outdoor water use.

Helping residents learn tips and techniques of water conservation was a primary goal when Castle Rock Water created CRconserve.com, a website geared at helping residents maximize water conservation habits around their home.

Rick Schultz, water conservation specialist says, “A major component of the Town’s Water Conservation Master Plan is educational outreach. With the generous support of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, through this grant, this new website allows us another way to reach our customers. We can keep our residents updated with all the latest conservation tips, local xeric plants and upcoming classes.”

More conservation coverage here.

EPA, Colorado Springs Utilities and the Colorado Water Conservation Board recognize Colorado’s first home certified under EPA water efficiency program

Here’s the release from the Environmental Protection Agency (Lisa McClain-Vanderpool):

At a recognition event today, the U.S. EPA, Colorado Springs Utilities and the Colorado Water Conservation Board recognized Gold Hill Mesa builder GJ Gardner Northgate for building the first WaterSense labeled home in the state of Colorado. GJ Gardner joins only 3 other builders nationwide who have done the same.

“This beautiful GJ Gardner home is being celebrated today for meeting high standards for water efficiency and conservation,”said Sadie Hoskie, EPA Region 8 water program director. “The Gold Hill Mesa development is not only a successful example of reusing valuable land, they have set the bar even higher not only by instituting water conservation through WaterSense but by adopting high renewable energy and efficiency standards in the homes they’re building.”

Each WaterSense home is independently inspected and certified by a third party to ensure EPA criteria are met for both water efficiency and performance. This GJ Gardner home is 20% more water efficient and will save a family of four approximately $600 per year in utility costs, or 50,000 gallons of water, compared to a typical home.

“We applaud the innovative builders who are taking such a thoughtful approach to water. These sensible steps will not only save money for homeowners but provide important examples for Coloradans as we understand water is a treasure for the entire state, important for our homes, but also for our farmers, rivers, wildlife, industries and tourism,” said John Stulp, special policy advisor for water to Gov. Hickenlooper. “Such responsible approaches to water help our economy and environment thrive.”

“New homes like this one are a model for our community’s future and help us achieve our long-range conservation goals to ensure a sustainable supply of water, while saving homeowners water, energy and money,” said Jerry Forte, chief executive officer for Colorado Springs Utilities.
Homeowners who invest in a WaterSense labeled home will save water and energy now, pay less for utilities every month, and protect resources for future generations. WaterSense labeled products like showerheads, toilets and bathroom faucets are now available at every cost point.

WaterSense labeled new homes are all about convenience, efficiency and confidence. Hot water will be delivered to the users faster – saving water, energy AND time. Their yards will be healthy, regionally sustainable and easier to maintain and their homes will be filled with WaterSense labeled products that they can be confident have been tested for efficiency and performance.

For more information on WaterSense visit:
http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/

More coverage from Kelly Werthmann writing for the Colorado Connection. From the article:

Colorado Springs Utilities, in partnership with the Colorado Water Conservation Board, recognized GJ Gardner Northgate for building the first WaterSense labeled home in Colorado. WaterSense homes are labeled as such when they are inspected by a third party and deemed credible to ensure water efficiency and performance. This particular home is in the Gold Hill Mesa development. As with other WaterSense homes, this home uses 20 percent less water than typical new homes. The U.S. EPA established WaterSense to protect the future of the nation’s water resources and promote water-efficient products.

More conservation coverage here.

Arkansas Basin Roundtable ag water needs committee met with Colorado State experts this week

From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka):

For the past decade, Colorado has been looking at the “gap” in municipal water supplies. The Statewide Water Supply Initiative — first released in 2004 and updated last year — projects a gap of from 190,000 to 630,000 acre-feet per year if the state’s population doubles by 2050, as projections show it will. Until recently, the state had talked about drying up farmland to meet the gap. There is new concern that drying up ag land will diminish the ability to feed more people. Food supply is expected to become a global problem in the next 50 years.

“[The Statewide Water Supply Initiative] says by 2050 we’ll double the population, but by 2050, we’ll also have to feed those people,” said Mark Sponsler, CEO of Colorado Corn…

“We need to come up with a solution so that ag water relates the same as municipal water,” said Reeves Brown, a Beulah rancher and member of the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District board. “We need to protect ag water.”[...]

Colorado State University researchers have developed computer models that can project the economic impact of removing water from agriculture, and the committee explored ways to develop models specific to the Arkansas and South Platte basins…

The group discussed presenting scenarios where the amount of water available for agriculture increases, stays the same or is reduced. Alternately, the models could factor in how the value of agricultural production could rise or fall with various amounts of water available.

More IBCC – basin roundtables coverage here.

Wastewater: On Tuesday Salida held a groundbreaking ceremony for their new treatment plant

From The Mountain Mail (Calley McDermott):

The Colorado Department of Local Affairs contributed $1.3 million to the project. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provided a $2.1 million grant and a $12.1 million loan. Jan Schmidt, city finance director, said the balance will be paid from reserves.

Moltz Construction, Inc. of Salida received the $11.8 million construction bid…

Mayor Chuck Rose said wastewater service is core to any municipality, and the Salida plant will also serve Poncha Springs. Rose said, “We’re staying ahead of the game” by constructing the new plant before effluent affects the river.

More wastewater coverage here and here.

State officials huddle up to discuss strategies for lowering nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen in wastewater effluent discharge

From the Colorado News Agency (Debi Brazzale) via The Sterling Journal Advocate:

Steve Gunderson, director of the state’s Water Quality Control Division, told the legislative Water Resources Review Committee the potential magnitude of the problem. “Nutrients are more toxic than plutonium,” said Gunderson.

The committee took the testimony at a hearing Wednesday [September 12] in accordance with House Joint Resolution 11-1025. The resolution outlines criteria to be studied by the panel in anticipation of rules and regulations to be proposed in March by the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission regarding the presence of surplus nutrients.

When combined, nitrogen and phosphorus fuel the production of algae, which is essential for plant and animal health — but too much of which can contaminate waterways, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. An excess of algae upsets the ecological balance for other life forms and requires urgent action, the federal environmental agency maintains. The EPA says the proliferation of such contaminants is a growing concern in the United States, and EPA rulings have encouraged states to adopt measureable standards and to develop mitigation strategies to reduce nutrients.

Gaining ground in controlling nutrients will require mitigation efforts at wastewater-treatment plants, state officials say. One approach involves what’s called Biological Nutrient Removal, or BNR, using naturally occurring micro-organisms to remove the nutrients. BNR, however, cannot remove the nutrients to EPA-recommended levels, according to Gunderson…

[State Representative Jerry Sonnenberg] countered that adopting quantifiable standards might disproportionately affect rural communities where agriculture and the use of fertilizers — containing nitrogen — are integral to their livelihood. “Agriculture uses less fertilizer per acre than most homes do on lawns,” said Sonnenberg. “Do we really want to go down this road and force agriculture to find different ways to grow food that everyone depends on?” Sonnenberg asserts that the nutrients-in-water conversation has been around for years — and that the jury is still out on both the impacts and causes of nutrient proliferation.

“Now they’re talking numbers, and it will be impossible to meet those numbers,” Sonnenberg said. “Let’s not handcuff ourselves with rules and regulations that cannot be met.”

More wastewater coverage here.

Aspen: The city council is weighing three options for fluoride dosing in the water supply

From The Aspen Times (Chadwick Bowman):

Currently, the city of Aspen adds fluoride to the natural amount already in the water supply to achieve a level of 1 to 1.1 milligrams of fluoride per each liter of water. The debate was sparked by recent recommendations from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services, federal agencies that want water districts to lower the amount of fluoride to .07 milligrams per liter…

Council members said that they need more time to discuss three possible options the city’s Environmental Health Department outlined. One option is to maintain the status quo; another is to completely stop adding fluoride to the water; the third alternative would be to reduce the amount of fluoride it adds to water to reach the EPA-recommended .07 level.

The council asked environmental health director Lee Cassin if she could return with more information about the issue. Council members asked how difficult and expensive it would be for individuals to filter out the fluoride on their own; how much money the city would save to end the program (the annual cost was an estimated $22,000); and why water plants in Europe have ended fluoridation.

More water treatment coverage here.

Energy policy — nuclear: Sheep Mountain, et. al., settle with Energy Fuels over water court application for the proposed Piñon Ridge Mill

From The Telluride Daily Planet (Matthew Beudin):

[Sheep Mountain Alliance], a Telluride-based environmental non-profit, has opposed the planned mill — to be located in Paradox Valley, about 60 miles west of Telluride — at nearly every turn. But last week, Sheep Mountain and others agreed to withdraw their objections regarding water use in exchange for the mining company’s adherence to certain environmental and water supply provisions…

Not so fast, though, says Hilary White, SMA’s executive director. “The stipulation between Sheep Mountain Alliance/Living Rivers and Energy Fuels does not provide Energy Fuels with a water right,” she wrote in an email on Wednesday. “The agreement requires Energy Fuels to obtain all necessary conditions including water from McPhee Reservoir to mitigate impacts from withdrawing groundwater in the Paradox Valley. However, it remains to be seen whether or not Energy Fuels is able to purchase Dolores Project Water and satisfy conditions of [Colorado Water Conservation Board] — the remaining objector.”

More nuclear coverage here and here.

The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) is hoping to recruit more student weather watchers

From the Rocky Mountain Collegian (Tyler Cashion):

“CoCoRaHS is a non-profit science network of people who relay their rain gauge levels to help local scientists all the way up to scientists on the national level,” said Noah Newman, education coordinator for CoCoRaHs…

Lately, CoCoRaHS has been visiting grade schools across the state to encourage students to become volunteers.

“The notion is that we need more data, we need more rain gages, we need more pixels on our map, just like you would want more pixels on your camera,” Newman said. “My plan as the education coordinator is to recruit more schools to our network.

“Right now most of our members are retired senior citizens, so we’re trying to get a younger group to join, but we are open for anyone to become a volunteer.”

According to Newman, CoCoRaHS has invited every school in the state of Colorado to join the program. Newman has even offered to buy the rain gages for these schools.

“Any teacher that is interested is eligible for a free rain gage,” Newman said. “We have handed out around 15 rain gages in Fort Collins so far, and we have schools all over the state already starting to participate.

Energy policy — nuclear: Cotter ordered to build bypass pipeline at its Schwartzwalder Mine

Here’s the release from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (Mark Salley):

On Tuesday, the Water Quality Control Division at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment amended its June 1, 2010 notice of violation/cease and desist order, and required Cotter Corporation to build a bypass pipeline at its Schwartzwalder Mine in Jefferson County to minimize the discharge of uranium-laden water into Ralston Creek.

Schwartzwalder Mine is an underground uranium mine near Golden that opened in about 1953 and was acquired by Cotter in 1966. Cotter operated the mine from 1966 until 2000 when mining operations ceased.

The Water Quality Control Division learned in 2010 that discharge from the mine property contained elevated levels of uranium that exceed surface water standards under the Colorado Water Quality Control Act.

Cotter completed the majority of the corrective actions required by the June order, but discharges of uranium and other mine-related pollutants to groundwater and surface water from the facility have continued.

Water sampling at the site from June 2010 through July 2011 show concentrations of uranium in the groundwater and surface water that continue to cause or contribute to an exceedance of the 30 micrograms per liter stream standard.

The amended order dated Sept. 27 requires Cotter to submit a plan to the department no later than Oct. 7 for the design and construction of the temporary structure (i.e., pipeline) that will divert Ralston Creek steam flows past the Schwartzwalder facility. Construction is to be substantially completed by Jan. 31, 2012.

The amendment to the June 1 order further requires Cotter to evaluate and enhance its groundwater capture and treatment system and to submit a plan and time schedule for the
aggressive removal or containment of all groundwater and surface water pollutant sources at the mine.

Steve Gunderson, director of the state’s Water Quality Control Division, said the department has continued to work closely with the Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety at the Colorado Department of Natural Resources to regulate the Schwartzwalder facility.

Gunderson said, “While Cotter implemented the majority of the corrective actions required in our June order, pollutants are continuing to reach the creek. This step is necessary to help protect groundwater and surface water.

“As the agency that regulates drinking water for the state, we also continue to work with public drinking water systems that rely on waters from Ralston Creek,” said Gunderson. “Those three providers (Denver Water, City of Arvada, and North Table Mountain Water and Sanitation District) continue to serve drinking water to their customers that meets safe drinking water standards. Although drainage from Schwartzwalder has continued to reach the surface waters of Ralston Creek, the drinking water from those systems remains safe for consumption as a result of downstream attenuation at Ralston Reservoir and Blunn Reservoir, and treatment techniques utilized by the public water systems.”

More coverage from Karen Crummy writing for The Denver Post. From the article:

Cotter Corp., which owns the defunct Schwartzwalder Mine in Jefferson County, has until Oct. 7 to submit a design- and-construction plan for a bypass pipeline. That pipeline is to be “substantially completed” by Jan. 31. Additionally, Cotter is required to submit a plan and time schedule for the “aggressive removal or containment of all groundwater and surface water pollutant sources” at the mine…

On Wednesday, the state said the company had “completed the majority of corrective actions” but added the pipeline requirement after it became clear pollutants were still reaching the creek…

Cotter has had numerous problems with the state over the years. Most recently, the company filed a lawsuit against the Colorado Mined Lands Reclamation Board, accusing it of abusing its discretion when it ordered Cotter to pump out and treat the uranium-tainted water in its mine.

More nuclear coverage here and here.

Wastewater: The Pueblo West Metro District approves $5.3 loan application for treatment plant upgrades

From The Pueblo Chieftain (Jeff Tucker):

If approved, the district would pay $320,000 a year over the next 20 years to cover the loan [ed. from the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority], but the improvements could also save the district enough money to soften the annual blow. Right now, the district pays about $360,000 a year to treat and dispose of the solids from the plant. The new improvements could save the district about $215,000 a year, making the annual payment about $115,000 a year. The improvements also will reduce the odor from the plant and protect against potential leaks into the groundwater.

Initial estimates are that, with about 5,000 homes on the district’s sewer lines, the annual payments could mean a $12 to $13 increase in sewer rates per year for those customers.

Meanwhile the district has received five applications for the vacant board seat, according to Jeff Tucker writing for The Pueblo Chieftain. From the article:

Five people have applied for the open seat on the Pueblo West Metropolitan District’s Board of Directors, vacated by Chuck Green… Metro District Manager Jack Johnston said the board won’t take any action until its next official meeting at the soonest. That meeting is Oct. 11

More wastewater coverage here and here.

Energy policy — oil and gas: Energy wonks ask for more time to comment on the proposed EPA air pollution rules

From the Associated Press (Catharine Tsai) via the Colorado Springs Gazette:

Environmentalists who attended a public hearing on the proposal argued the agency’s proposed rules could go further. The meeting was the second of three on the agency’s plan, which includes what would be its first regulations for wells that are hydraulically fractured by blasting water, chemicals and sand underground…

Dozens of people spoke at hearings Tuesday in Pittsburgh and Wednesday in Denver. More planned to speak Thursday in Arlington, Texas…

The new rules would focus on having operators capture and sell natural gas that now escapes into the air.

The EPA estimated its fully implemented proposal could reduce emissions of smog-forming volatile organic compounds by about 540,000 tons, or 25 percent. It would reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas methane by about 26 percent and reduce hazardous air pollutants, including benzene, by almost 30 percent, the EPA estimates.

You can follow Ms. Tsai on Twitter @ctsai_denver.

More oil and gas coverage here and here.

The Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust recently put 800 acres in the San Luis Valley under conservation easements

Here’s the release from the Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust via The Del Norte Prospector:

In the last two months, RiGHT protected the Rocky River Ranch west of Del Norte, the Howard Lester Ranch outside of Monte Vista and the Clark Ranch south of Alamosa.

These projects are a continuation of the local land trust’s Rio Grande Initiative, an ambitious effort to protect private land along the river corridor through voluntary, incentive-based conservation easements.

Collectively these ranches contain irrigated fields, wet meadows and prime farmland soils. Their protection helps keep land and water dedicated to agriculture, one of the core pieces of our local economy and the way of life we enjoy here in the Valley. These ranches also protect the cottonwoods and willows along the banks of the Rio Grande, which provide vital habitat for migratory songbirds, raptors, waterfowl and waterbirds, mule deer, elk and many other wildlife species. Equally as important, conservation of these lands protects the scenic views that both residents and visitors treasure here in the San Luis Valley…

Funding for these projects came from a variety of resources, including lottery-funded Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, the Conservation Resource Center and the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife’s San Luis Valley Habitat Partnership Program Committee.

These projects would not be possible without the dedication and generosity of the landowners who are protecting what they love about the San Luis Valley for future generations. “Thanks to their vision and commitment to conservation, we are helping ensure that the San Luis Valley we love today will still be here tomorrow,” commented RiGHT’s Executive Director, Nancy Butler.

While RiGHT works with landowners throughout the entire San Luis Valley, they have a special focus on protecting land and water resources in the Rio Grande corridor through the Rio Grande Initiative. RiGHT began the Initiative in 2007 in partnership with Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy. At the outset, there were 6,000 acres protected between 1986 and 2006.

More Rio Grande River basin coverage here and here.

Denver: Metropolitan State College scores $1 million for new urban water center

Here’s the release from Metropolitan State College via The Denver Post:

An anonymous donor has given Metropolitan State College $1 million to establish an interdisciplinary water studies program.

Metro State officials on Tuesday said they’ll embark on creating the One World One Water Center for Urban Water Education and Stewardship — or OWOW — and that new courses next year will explore water issues.

OWOW’s mission will be to develop “urban water stewards” with an understanding of how to conserve critical resources. Students who study hydrology, politics, history, water law and conflict resolution then are to be guided toward internships and other volunteer opportunities to help meet statewide water needs.

The donor previously funded creation of a raindrop-shaped bronze sculpture on campus – meant to depict water cycles from mountains to oceans.

The new program will “bring recognition to Metro State. Part of Metro State’s mission is to help the community solve community related issues. Clearly, water is a huge issue in the West,” said Sandra Haynes, Metro State’s dean of professional studies. “We’ll be helping to create change in the way the Denver community views and uses water.”

More coverage from the Denver Business Journal (Bruce Goldberg):

The center, which is scheduled to offer a minor in water studies in fall 2012, will address Colorado’s growing demand for water and foster public education about it. The center also will implement water-stewardship activities both on campus and off, and connect students to internships, service learning and volunteer opportunities. The center also will help facilitate public education seminars and water-conservation initiatives.

Course topics will include hydrology, water law, history, economics, politics, conflict resolution and negotiation.

More coverage from Melanie Asmar writing for Westword. From the article:

“When we researched the potential for this program, we found that there wasn’t much being done at the undergraduate level to incorporate a variety of disciplines in water education,” says Sandra Haynes, dean of Metro State’s School of Professional Studies in a statement. “Through the interdisciplinary model, our graduates have the potential to make lasting impacts on water issues in our communities across the state.”

More education coverage here.

The Denver Water Board approves a 5.5% rate increase for 2012

Click on the thumbnail graphic to the right for the Denver Water comparison chart for yearly charges in the Denver Metropolitan area. Here’s the release from Denver Water:

At its meeting today, the Denver Board of Water Commissioners voted on a water rate increase for 2012 to provide necessary funding for the utility’s capital projects. The new water rates will take effect January 2012 and will help the utility stay on top of needed projects to address its aging infrastructure.

“The increase is about half of what the Board had anticipated last year,” said Angela Bricmont, director of finance. “We looked very closely at our capital plan and found a balance between projects that could wait and projects we had to undertake to avoid putting reliable service at risk. We also implemented additional efficiency measures throughout the organization.”

The water rates for 2012 will reflect a 5.5 percent increase for all customers. The effects of the proposed changes on customer bills will vary depending upon the amount of water the customer uses and whether the customer lives in Denver or is served by a suburban distributor under contract with Denver Water. The more customers use, the more they will pay. Under the current rate proposal, average Denver residential customers would see their bills increase by $19.43 a year — an average of $1.62 per month. Typical suburban residential customers served by Denver Water would see an increase of $34.11 per year — an average of $2.84 per month. Commercial, industrial and government customers also would see a 5.5 percent increase.

Next year, the utility’s major projects include its pipe rehabilitation and replacement program to improve water flow, water quality and pipe integrity in communities; the expansion of its recycled water system, which helps free up drinking water and extend water supplies into the future; the completion of major valve projects at Cheesman and Williams Fork dams; and the protection of the watershed through its From Forests to Faucets Partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.

Denver Water owns and maintains more than 3,000 miles of distribution pipe — enough to stretch from Los Angeles to New York — as well as 12 raw water reservoirs, 22 pump stations and four treatment plants. Ongoing rehabilitation and replacement of infrastructure is needed throughout the water distribution system, much of which dates back to post-World War II installation or earlier.

The utility plans to expand its system capacity over the next decade to meet the future needs of its customers by expanding the utility’s recycled water system, enlarging Gross Reservoir by 18,000 acre-feet, developing gravel pits that store reusable water, and exploring ways to work with other water providers to bring more supplies to its system.

Rates for Denver Water customers living inside the city remain among the lowest in the metro area, while rates for Denver Water residential customers in the suburbs would still fall at or below the median among area water providers.

“We are sensitive to the economy and the need to spend our customers’ dollars wisely,” Bricmont said. “We remain committed to organization-wide efficiency, sound financial management and fiscal responsibility. Our AAA bond rating allows us to build projects at lower cost — savings we are able to pass along to our customers.”

The water department is funded through rates and new tap fees, not taxes. Its rates are designed to recover the costs of providing reliable, high-quality water service and to encourage efficiency by charging higher prices for increased water use. A significant portion of Denver Water’s annual costs do not vary with the amount of water sold and include maintenance of the system’s distribution pipes, reservoirs, pump stations and treatment plants. Denver Water also examines and adjusts its capital plan as necessary each year.

Details of the 2012 rates can be found on Denver Water’s website (denverwater.org). Members of the public who have questions about the 2012 water rates may call 303-628-6320.

Colorado-Big Thompson Project update: 200 cfs in the river below Olympus dam

From email from Reclamation (Kara Lamb):

As we move into fall, we’re seeing some of our late season demands come on downstream of the Big Thompson River. As a result, we’ve been moving some water down from Pinewood, Flatiron and Lake Estes. Each reservoir has seen a slight drop in water elevation.

We have also increased releases from Lake Estes through Oly Dam. Monday night, we bumped releases up 75 cfs. Last night, we bumped up another 50 cfs. Consequently, this morning the Big Thompson through the canyon is flowing at about 200 cfs.

It is possible we could go up another 25 cfs late tonight. But, it is also likely flows will drop back down to below 100 cfs by Saturday morning when it is anticipated delivery of water down the Big T will drop off.

Also from Reclamation (Kara Lamb):

Flows on the Colorado River continue to drop. That means, calls for water along the 15 Mile Reach of critical habitat for the endangered fish are up slightly. As a result we have increased our release from Green Mountain to the Lower Blue. Yesterday around 5 p.m. we released another 50 cfs. That means the Lower Blue is currently around 650 cfs.

More Colorado-Big Thompson Project coverage here.

The Parker Water and Sanitation District may lower their mil levy 31%

From the Parker Chronicle:

Said Mary Spencer, President of the [Parker Water and Sanitation District] Board, “The tap fee income PWSD has received from new development allows us to pay debt and reduce property taxes from 14.925 mills to 10.172 mills in 2012. This translates to a savings on property taxes. The reduction in the mil levy also includes a onetime reduction in the operating portion of the mill levy by 0.925 mills to payback property taxes plus interest that were collected in excess of limits allowed under TABOR. In addition, the Board is presenting to their customers, at the October 17, 2011 budget hearing, that there be no increase in the 2012 wastewater rates and only a 4% increase in water rates. The 4% increase for the average in house use of 6,000 gallons is $1.59 per month…

The Board will consider the proposed budget for approval at the October 17, 2011 Board meeting to be held at 7 PM at the District’s North Water Reclamation Plant located at 18100 E. Woodman Dr., Parker , CO 80134.

More Parker coverage here.

Ben Noreen: ‘A sustainable future costs money’

From The Colorado Springs Gazette (Ben Noreen):

The [Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District] plans informational meetings during the next several days for its 3,300 ratepayers, but Manager Jesse Shaffer said information about the deal began to be mailed to customers months ago. As early as Oct. 16 the district’s board may decide to spend between $25 million and $31 million for the JV Ranch and the 3,500 acre feet of Fountain Creek water that go with it. Shaffer said the final purchase price will depend upon how much of that water can be converted to municipal use; it’s now used as agricultural water. A water court case would determine those numbers, but Woodmoor customers would see about $48 a month in additional charges to pay off revenue bonds sold by the district…

…a sustainable future costs money and the general notion of any water district reducing its dependence on disappearing groundwater in favor of annually renewable supplies is good for the entire Pikes Peak region. At some point, our nonrenewable water in the ground will be gone and long before that happens, cities towns and districts have to figure out how to avoid being left high and dry. “The JV Ranch purchase represents the greatest milestone in our district’s quest for renewable water,” Board President Barrie Town said…

Woodmoor customers can hear more details about the proposal at a meeting Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Monument Town Hall, 645 Beacon Lite Road, or on Oct. 8 at 8 a.m. at The Mozaic Restaurant at the Inn at Palmer Divide, 443 S. Highway 105, Palmer Lake.

More Arkansas River basin coverage here. More Denver basin aquifer system coverage here.

A fishery exists on the South Platte River through the Denver Metro area despite the non-natural flows and years of abuse as the city grew

Flyfishing for carp in the South Platte is not easy. Sight fishing for actively feeding carp takes a bit of skill, a little luck, clear water and a fundamental understanding of this species’ finicky behavior. Once thought of as only a trash fish, carp have developed a cult-like following on the South Platte, from Chatfield Reservoir to Commerce City. Carp are a challenging species, but the river they inhabit in Denver has problems like few others.

“The South Platte River from Chatfield downstream through the city of Denver and even beyond doesn’t always have adequate flows to provide optimum amounts of water for sport fish,” said Paul Winkle, aquatic biologist for the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Even so, populations of fish are thriving. With every new trip to the water, the carp and other species caught by steadfast anglers are proof of the river’s potential as a healthy, sustainable fishery. One reason there is such belief in this section of the South Platte is because of the numbers produced each year at the carp tourney. In addition to the 16 carp landed by different teams (and numerous others that broke off light tippet or spit improperly set hooks), a number of trout also were caught and released, including a 22-inch rainbow…

In addition to a thriving carp population and pockets of healthy trout, anglers have reported increasing numbers of smallmouth bass. During this year’s carp slam, for the second year in a row, another frequently caught species was smallmouth bass. Smalleys can sustain higher water temperatures than other sport fish such as rainbows or browns, and they have a higher chance of survival and natural reproduction.

More South Platte River basin coverage here.

Drought news: Walsh sets record for lowest precipitation in August

From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka):

“The long-term seasonal climate forecast indicates that the return of La Nina conditions will likely result in drier conditions than last year,” said Veva DeHeza of the Colorado Water Conservation Board. “Below average conditions in the southeastern portion of the state are likely to persist with a chance of normal precipitation in the mountains for the midwinter.” The U.S. Drought Monitor still lists most of the Rio Grande, Pueblo and Baca counties as in extreme drought, with parts of Baca County still in exceptional drought. About 39 percent of the state is in drought. A record low for precipitation was recorded at Walsh in August, and September is on pace as well. Pueblo County has seen its lowest levels for precipitation since 2002, with 6.83 inches recorded so far this year at the airport weather station — roughly 60 percent of average.

Click here for the Colorado Water Conservation Board presentations from last week’s Water Availability Task Force meeting.

‘What the Frack?’ event recap: More than 100 people attend event last Saturday in Fort Collins

From the Fort Collins Coloradoan (Bobby Magill):

More than 100 people attended former EPA environmental engineer Weston Wilson’s Sierra Club-sponsored presentation about the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, Saturday at the Fort Collins Brewery…

Wilson, in a 2004 letter to Congress, said the conclusions of an EPA report about fracking were not supported by the evidence. The report claimed that injecting toxic material into the ground during a fracking job presented no risk to the environment. Wilson recently retired from the EPA…

“There’s really no place along the Front Range that’s unsuitable for drilling the Niobrara,” Wilson said. All those wells are going to be fracked, and that could be an issue with water quality and supplies, he said…

About 2 percent of fracked oil wells fail, possibly releasing contaminants into underground water supplies, he said. The challenge for regulators has been that nobody really knows much about those failures because those affected by them are legally bound to keep quiet, he said. “The industry buys out those they contaminate,” he said. “Well, we don’t learn anything from that. When they buy out the person with a nondisclosure agreement, there’s no public information.”

Wilson said he is advocating for making fracking cleaner, adding that fears about the impacts of fracking have encouraged several European countries to ban the practice in addition to New York City banning fracking within its watershed.

More oil and gas coverage here and here.

Colorado Foundation for Water Education ‘Future Horizons for Irrigated Agriculture in Northern Colorado’ tour October 17

From email from the Colorado Foundation for Water Education (Kristin Maharg):

How much water does Colorado need to grow? What is the threat to agriculture? How can water stay on farms while securing a desirable future? Attend a fast-paced tour to find out and network with others!

Join the Colorado Foundation for Water Education and expert speakers at “Future Horizons for Irrigated Agriculture in Northern Colorado” on Monday, October 17. The day will begin and end in Greeley and only costs $50/person thanks to the support of our sponsors!

CFWE first hosted this tour on September 9 and due to the overwhelming response plus the topic’s critical importance, we are able to do the same program again on 10/17. The harvest will be in full swing and we anticipate another sold out tour. So sign up now – registration is only open to CFWE members from now through Thursday.

Click here for the itinerary and CFWE member priority registration.

More Colorado Foundation for Water Education coverage here.