From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka):
Long-term partnerships to supply cities with storage space and farms with additional water are possible under plans that a water and farming company has set in motion. “Part of our plan is to develop gravel pit reservoirs on the Arkansas River. We’re looking for collaboration rather than competition with municipal and industrial water providers,” Two Rivers Water and Farming CEO John McKowen told the Arkansas Basin Roundtable on Wednesday.
Two Rivers has purchased farms, reservoirs and reservoir sites in Pueblo and Huerfano counties over the past three years. McKowen spoke to the roundtable for the first time this week in preparation for asking the Colorado Water Conservation Board for another loan to develop the gravel pit reservoirs.
Two Rivers used previous CWCB loans to rehabilitate Cucharas and Orlando reservoirs in Huerfano County. Earlier this month, some restrictions were removed on Cucharas Reservoir, allowing up to 10,000 acre-feet to be stored there. While that reservoir is slow to fill — rights are relatively junior and the Cucharas River relatively dry — there could be immediate benefits to reservoirs Two Rivers wants to build on the Excelsior Ditch east of Pueblo.
McKowen is talking to the recovery of yield group — Colorado Springs Utilities, Aurora Water and the Pueblo Board of Water Works — about storage in the Excelsior Ditch reservoirs if they are built. The cities have looked at purchasing sites in the area in the past because it would allow for more immediate recovery of flows that are bypassed under agreements to maintain Arkansas River levels.
While most members were hearing them directly for the first time, McKowen’s plans were met with skepticism from Jay Winner, general manager of the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District. “What I’m afraid of is that he’ll dry up agriculture,” Winner said, noting that the cities now store water in other ditch company reservoirs. “I don’t think he should get a state loan without a study of the economic impacts on Crowley and Otero counties.”
More IBCC — basin roundtables coverage here.