Here’s a report about last week’s meeting of the Lower South Platte Watershed Plan Project, from Judy Debus writing for the Sterling Journal Advocate. From the article:
The plan is expected to be released in late 2010 and will be the guide and focus for groups within the watershed to apply for grants to address the problems documented. After a time of sharing information about the planning process and the Lower South Platte, the meeting was opened for ideas from those attending. “We want to hear from you, your concerns, the things you think need to be addressed for the future of the watershed,” Cronquist said.
Among concerns listed by the group include:
• New water storage
• Upgrade old storage
• Baseline studies of aquatic life
• Water for livestock
• More collective/data sharing
• Site specific Best Management Practices (BMP)
• Increases in salinity, increase in salt cedar, zebra mussels, Sago pondweed
• Land use changesGroups and organizations that have supported the plan through their involvement on the Core (advisory) Committee include: Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Colorado Corn, Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Colorado Livestock Association, Colorado State University Extension, Colorado State University, Ducks Unlimited, Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District, Lower South Platte Watershed Association, Natural Resources Conservation Service, North Front Range Water Quality Planning Association, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy, Northeast Colorado Health Department, Sedgwick County Conservation District, and West Greeley Conservation District.
By 2030, it’s projected an additional 2 million residents will live in Colorado’s portion of the South Platte River Basin, and these additional people will need about 400,000 acre feet of water to meet their demand.
Information: For more, visit http://www.LSPWP.com.
More South Platte Basin coverage here.