Day: August 17, 2009

Ruedi operations update

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From email from Reclamation (Kara Lamb):

Several of you have been calling, so I thought it best to let everyone know that it looks like releases from Ruedi will stay up and the Fryingpan flows will remain around 500 cfs for the time being. After the inspection up on the Colorado River at Shoshone last week, the Fish and Wildlife Service maintained their call for their contracted Ruedi water for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program. Flows in the Colorado remain lower than anticipated there. Contracted water from Ruedi is being used to help boost those flows.

Ms. Lamb is also pointing to the website for the reservoir operations.

More Roaring Fork watershed coverage here.

Sterling: City Council approves ballot issue for new treatment plant

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From the Sterling Journal Advocate (Forrest Hershberger):

The city is confronted with an issue of how to supply water that meets the quality standards dictated by the Environmental Protection Agency and consequently the state health department. The issue is that the amount of uranium detected in the city’s water is higher than new EPA standards, and the city has a limited amount of time to show progress toward changing it…

A question brought up to the council is what happens if the voters do not approve the bonds. Mayor Dan Jones said if the city does not update the water system, the EPA could declare the city’s water system noncompliant and consequently federal funding, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, would disappear. Real estate in the area would be virtually worthless, he said. Kiolbasa said the city is applying for funding from the Department of Local Affairs. Meanwhile, Sterling water users are in a bind, but no different than any other community along the South Platte River. “I think everyone else along the South Platte is in the same boat,” said councilman Jerry Haynes.

More Sterling coverage here and here.

Eagle County: Brush Creek enhancement project enters final phase

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From the Vail Daily:

The intent of the project is to improve stream health from the upper Sylvan Lake Road bridge to the upper end of the Eagle Ranch development boundary, about 8,300 feet. The project is coordinated jointly by the Eagle Ranch Wildlife Committee, town of Eagle and the Colorado Division of Wildlife under permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. Funding for the project comes from the Eagle Ranch Wildlife Trust Fund and Scott Skelton, an adjacent property owner. The project involves using mechanical equipment to construct gravel bars, pools and riffles, as well as stabilize eroding stream banks. “The work uses well established practices that improve stream health and fish habitat for spawning, feeding, resting and wintering,” said Eagle Open Space Coordinator Bill Heicher. “The work is planned on portions of the stream on town open space, along with land where adjacent property owners have agreed to allow in-stream and bank work on their property.”

More Eagle River watershed coverage here and here.