From email from DARCA (John McKenzie):
Grand Mesa provides most of the Grand Valley’s drinking water. It is where we go to ski in winter and beat the heat in summer. Grand Mesa is also home to working ranches, natural gas wells, and wildlife.
On Saturday, September 18, 2010, the Water Center at Mesa State College (a project of the Mesa County Water Association and Mesa State College) will host an all-day tour of the Grand Mesa with expert presenters to explain how Grand Mesa’s water is managed to meet needs for clean drinking water, the environment, recreation and agriculture. Along the way you will see gorgeous vistas from Lands End Road and Hwy 65, as well as aspens in high color. Key topics covered on the tour will include:
– how drinking water sources are protected from wildfire and other threats.
– the biological importance of fens (peat-forming wetlands) and how
protecting them complicates water development.
– how Grand Mesa’s reservoirs are managed for multiple uses.
– how Grand Mesa’s water is used for snowmaking
– the potential for ranching on Grand Mesa to suffer as municipal water needs grow.We will have expert speakers from Mesa State College, the City of Grand Junction, the US Forest Service, the CO Division of Water Resources, Powderhorn Resort, and Ute Water.
Cost for the tour, including lunch and transportation, is $40 if you register prior to September 8 and $50 for late registrants. Members of the Mesa County Water Association get a $10 discount.
For more information or to register, contact Hannah Holm at 970-683-1133 or hannah@mesacountywater.org or download the draft itinerary and registration form from www.mesacountywater.org.
More Colorado River Basin coverage here.