Aurora’s water may not spill this spring, according to a report from Chris Woodka writing for The Pueblo Chieftain. From the article:
Under operational rules, Lake Pueblo’s elevation must be lowered by April 15 to provide space to contain flood waters. About 3,000 acre-feet of water could be spilled. The water spilled would be in excess-capacity accounts held by users outside the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District and spilled on a pro-rata basis. The largest account is Aurora’s, but the Round Mountain Water District in Custer County and the town of Victor in Teller County also have water storage in Lake Pueblo. If snowpack upstream of Lake Pueblo remains below average, however, water users will be granted a two-week extension to move water out of the reservoir under the agreement between the Corps and the Bureau of Reclamation, which operates Lake Pueblo. The agreement allows storage of up to 10,000 acre-feet above flood-control levels until May 1, said Ray Vaughan, manager of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. “This is a one-time, temporary, two-week extension,” Vaughan told the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District board Thursday.
More Fryingpan-Arkansas Project coverage here.