I am not alone
I am with you
Paths we live along
I walk with you
I follow you
Sometimes lose a head gate wheel
Sometimes paddle storm drain pools
A new march.
Greg Hobbs, March 29, 2015. Reprinted with permission.
Day: March 29, 2015
Catching Colorado’s Rainwater
Colorado: Ambitious restoration project in Summit County aims to heal Swan River’s mining scars
Update on the new hydroelectric generation station at the north outlet works at Pueblo Dam
From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka):
It will be awhile before the turbines start spinning, but work continues toward installing hydroelectric generation at Pueblo Dam.
An update on the hydropower project was shared by Kevin Meador of the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District staff at this month’s board meeting.
“We’re working with Black Hills Energy on the pricing of power and what we sell it for. That’s a key piece, and we’re getting close to the nitty-gritty,” Meador told the board.
The district is working with Colorado Springs Utilities and the Pueblo Board of Water Works on a 7-megawatt generation system that would be installed at the North Outlet Works on Pueblo Dam.
The structure was built as part of the Southern Delivery System with design allowing for future hydro connection. It would generate about 20,000 megawatt hours annually and could be completed by 2018.
The total cost of the project is in the $20 million range, and so far about $934,000 has been expended in engineering work.
In January, the Pueblo County planning commission issued a finding of no significant impact and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation decided an environmental assessment would be needed. Black Hills completed an interconnection study in December and recommended hooking up to the grid at a newly constructed substation which will serve the SDS Juniper Pump Station.
More Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District coverage here.
State ditches well plan — The Pueblo Chieftain
From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka):
The Colorado Division of Water Resources last week dropped plans to institute new well rules for Arkansas River basin.
The rules would have applied to appropriations of groundwater after 1985, when Kansas sued Colorado in the U.S. Supreme Court over groundwater appropriations. The state was not interested in pursuing the rules if water users thought them unnecessary.
“There wasn’t a consensus that it was needed,” said Division 2 Engineer Steve Witte.
A survey of ditch company officials, water attorneys and other interested parties was mixed with 39 percent favored new rules, 32 percent opposed and 29 percent neutral. Survey results were posted online.
Under current rules, new appropriations for wells must have a court-approved augmentation plan or can be approved temporarily under a substitute water supply plan.
More Arkansas River Basin coverage here.