THE WAR OVER OUR WATER RIGHTS

The following information has been posted to the Colorado River Water Conservation District (CRWCD) web site:

Press Release: “Water Released from Wolford Mountain Reservoir to Boost Colorado River Flows”

Colorado River District releases water to increase flows for stretches of Colorado River with critical recreational and economic value. (posted 7-8-2004)

Wolcott Reservoir Feasibility Assessment.

Phase I of the assessment of the proposed Wolcott Reservoir Project. (102-page .pdf file)

PowerPoint Presentation: “What is Colorado’s Share from the Colorado Compact?”

CRWCD Board, Enterprise and Subcommittee Meeting Notices and Agendas:

Notice and Agenda of the Third Regular Quarterly Meeting (July 20-21, 2004)

Notice and Agenda of the Third Regular Quarterly Meeting of the Colorado River Water Projects Enterprise (July 21, 2004)

2004 Third Quarterly Board Meeting Reports:

General Counsel's Quarterly Report (07-2004)

General Counsel's Quarterly Report - Enterprise (07-2004)

Secretary/General Manager's Goals and Priorities for 2004

Draft Vision Statement - Colorado River Compact (07-2004)

Draft Vision Statement - Future Operation of the Colorado River Water Projects Enterprise

Ad Hoc Policy Review Procedures Advisory Committee Minutes (07-2004)

Capital Revenues Alternatives (07-2004)

Federal Affairs (07-2004)

Wolford Mountain Reservoir Operations (07-2004)

Old Dillon Reservoir (07-2004)

Gunnison/Grand Valley Selenium Issues (07-2004)

Grant Program (07-2004)

Ruedi Reservoir and Frying Pan River Issues (07-2004)

Eagle River Water Supplies (07-2004)

Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) (07-08-04)

Elkhead Reservoir Enlargement Update (07-2004)

Supplemental Documents to the 2003 Draft Audit (07-2004)

For additional news and information please visit our homepage: www.crwcd.org

Martha Moore

Colorado River Water Conservation District

PO Box 1120

201 Centennial St., Suite 200

Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

ph:970.945.8522, ext.26

fax: 970.945.8799

email: mmoore@crwcd.org

website: www.crwcd.org

http://www.crwcd.com/news/reports/07-08-04fedleg.pdf

"Black Canyon of the Gunnison: Congress approved and the President signed into law legislation adding roughly 10,000 acres to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Gorge National Park and the Conservation Area. The additional lands will come from existing federal holdings and from willing sellers. The legislation included language requested by the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users to address land ownership and access issues related to their facilities. There were no other water implications to this legislation. The additional lands are required to be managed for multiple use."

"A December 31, 2003 federal Claims Court decision recognized that a government "taking" occurred when federal wildlife officials withheld water otherwise guaranteed to farmers to protect endangered fish. In what may be a landmark case, Judge Wiese awarded $26 million ruling that the government's halting of water deliveries constituted a "taking" or intrusion on the farmers' private property rights. The case stemmed from the government's efforts to protect endangered winter-run chinook salmon and threatened delta smelt between 1992 and 1994 by withholding billions of gallons from farmers in California's Kern and Tulare counties. The government has not decided whether to appeal."

"The scientist who is credited with discovering the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse agrees that recent research invalidates his 1954 findings. In an e-mail released to a congressional committee, Dr. Philip H. Krutzsch endorsed a recent study that concludes the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse is genetically identical to the bear lodge jumping mouse, a common rodent found throughout two-thirds of North America."

"Congressman Linder (R-GA) is again pursuing a blue ribbon, nationwide water commission. However, this session he has considerably more support. H.R. 135 passed the House this past fall. Congressmen McInnis and Beauprez are co-sponsors. The bill has been referred to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The Senate Committee has still not acted.

This bill would create a nine-member commission: 5 appointed by the President, 2 by the House and 2 by the Senate. One signficiant difference between this session’s bill and last session’s is that the membership this time is not dominated by federal officials.

The commission would be charged with examining and reporting on ways to study and develop recommendations for a comprehensive water strategy to address the nation’s future needs for freshwater resources. A final report is required in three years."

"Selenium: The River District is currently active in attempts to appropriate funds for selenium control, mitigation, and study. As a result of last month's actions by the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission, Colorado now has more than 7600 miles of streams listed as water quality impaired under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. Almost 90% of these streams are listed, in whole or in part, because of elevated selenium concentrations.

While not suggesting that the Commission did anything improper, the numbers indicate the need for additional study on the problem and its possible remediation.

Accordingly, we have been advocating for: 1.) restoration of funding to the National Irrigation Water Quality Improvement Program (NIWQIP) which was zeroed out in the President’s budget, 2.) another year of funding for the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users’ on-the-ground selenium mitigation efforts ($750,000) and 3.) a five-year, $10 million appropriation to study Colorado’s elevated selenium concentrations, its impacts on Colorado’s unique aquatic habitats, and possible selenium mitigation efforts...

Senator Allard amended the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) to include authorization for $5 million for selenium studies and remediation/mitigation demonstration projects in Colorado. WRDA applies exclusively to the Army Corps of Engineers, which frankly isn’t our first choice for sponsorship of these studies and projects, but it’s a bird-in-the-hand world. We are exploring other legislative strategies to transfer this authorization to the USGS."

Future management plans for the Black Canyon National Park

are being decided NOW! For information on the alternative plans

and an opportunity for input, go to: www.western.edu/envs/black

The NPS may allow more public input, but only after narrowing

the options to two

Now will be the only real opportunity for input on all the options.

Don't let NPS decide without your say! - WSLP

Historic Gunnison River Agreement Settles NPS Water Claim

Feds get 300cfs flow, Colorado to lease larger flows as available. :

A good resource. Includes snowpack info., etc.:

Water Information Project:

Water Science for Schools:

WSLP WATER SUMMARY

The Colo. River Water Conservation District site:

The experts' summary of the Gunnison River situation:

SB02-156 and Current Bills including: Instream use:

http://www.leg.state.co.us/2002a/pubhome.nsf

Good article by Ari Armstrong. Perspective on Gordon:

http://www.co-freedom.com/2001/12/libertyisjustice.html

Ken Gordon's Colo.Task Force on Information Technology - minutes:

http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/privacy/minutes_06_26.htm

Proposed legislation:

http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2001/comsched/01WaterLegislationReviewsched.htm#Proposed

CRS 37-46-101 thru 151: This is the act that created the CRWCD.

Notice - The US Dept. of Interior has been ordered to shut down connections to the internet due to security concerns.

Consequently, the following US govt. links may be inaccessible. No information is currently available on when this situation will be corrected. - WSLP

THE WAR OVER OUR WATER RIGHTS
	Shall we stand aside and allow the National Park Service to simply pull the plug and drain our reservoirs?