Day: October 22, 2010

Colorado-Big Thompson Project update

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From email from Reclamation (Kara Lamb):

Annual maintenance work continues across the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. As a result, portions of the project remain off-line.

We are bringing a limited amount of water from the West Slope. We are moving some water through Marys Lake and generating a little power at the Estes Plant. This means that we are bringing some water into Lake Estes. By this evening Lake Estes should be close to full. It will drop a little over the weekend.

Releases from Olympus Dam to the Big Thompson River have increased slightly to about 75 cfs. They will remain near that flow rate through the weekend and drop back down to around 35 cfs by Monday.

Pinewood Reservoir remains drawn down to an elevation of about 6543–about 37 feet from full capacity. It will remain this low well into December while work is being completed in the Bald Mountain Pressure Tunnel.

Carter Lake Reservoir is currently at an elevation of 5687, approximately 72 feet down from full capacity. The North Pines and North boat ramps are both still well under water. The water elevation is anticipated to drop a few more feet next week. The water year ends on October 31.

Horsetooth Reservoir is currently sitting at an elevation of 5385–45 feet from full capacity. A few boat ramps are now out of the water, but the main six-lane ramp in South Bay is still in service. Like Carter, we anticipate the draw on Horsetooth will continue through the month when the water year ends.

More Colorado-Big Thompson Project coverage here.

Brush: City council approves construction management contract for new wastewater treatment plant

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From the Brush News-Tribune (Jesse Chaney):

During a special meeting Monday evening, the Brush City Council approved a motion to hire Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. to administer construction management services for a project that will bring a new wastewater-treatment facility to Brush. Stantec designed the new wastewater plant itself, and the council recently approved another motion to seek a bid for construction management services from the Denver-based company alone.

More wastewater coverage here.

The Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District approves IGA with Otero County that will keep water from the Larkspur ditch in the Arkansas Basin

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From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka):

The Lower Ark board approved the agreement Wednesday, after county commissioners held a hearing and approved the agreement earlier this month…

Water from the Gunnison basin is imported through the mountain ditch in Saguache County above Poncha Creek, and traditionally was used by Catlin Canal irrigators as a supplemental water source. Typically, it diverts less than 500 acre-feet annually, and is only a small part of the Catlin’s supply. The Lower Ark wants to change the water right to use for purposes within the basin. Under the agreement, the water first must be offered to any water user in Otero County, but there are further limitations.

They include:

– No permanent transfers off the main stem of the Arkansas River.

– No more than one-third of the water produced by Larkspur over any 10-year period could be used outside the mainstem of the Arkansas River by any means, including trades and exchanges.

– The main stem, as defined in the agreement, includes the Arkansas River and tributaries below Pueblo Dam, excluding Fountain Creek.

– The Lower Ark district is also asking the Otero County commissioners to maintain conditions at least as restrictive as in the agreement, or to amend the agreement if other agreements get more lenient conditions.

More Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District coverage here.

Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District board meeting recap

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From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka):

The Bureau of Reclamation determined there was a need to improve the safety at Pueblo Dam, even though it posed no imminent danger, in 1997. After design work in 1998, a 20-foot concrete “doorstop” was put in the stilling basin in front of the dam. Rock bolts were also drilled to prevent possible slippage of the concrete buttresses that make up the central portion of the dam. There were restrictions on the level of water in the dam in 1998-99 while work was in progress. The project was completed in 1999…

In other action, the board:

– Set budget hearings for its 2011 budget at its Nov. 18 meeting.

– Voted to recommend revenues from Fry-Ark Project excess-capacity contracts be applied to repayment of the South Outlet Works at Pueblo Dam and the Fountain Valley Conduit until payments start on the future Arkansas Valley Conduit. Federal legislation this year allows revenues to be applied to debts owed by the Southeastern district. Reclamation makes the decision.

– Approved a proposal to put 100 percent of water designated for the Arkansas Valley Conduit into the proposed conduit when it is built. At a conduit committee meeting, the recommendation was made as an equitable way to pay costs, even if some communities deciding on using water outside the conduit for purposes such as augmentation.

– Heard a presentation from Todd Doherty of the Colorado Water Conservation Board on a statewide water needs assessment which is entering its final phase. The CWCB will discuss ways to address potential gaps in water supply at its November meeting in preparation for adopting the assessment next year.

More Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District coverage here.