Poor Mountain Snowpack Could Cost Cities
Front Range Cities May Pay To Keep Water
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A poor snowpack on the Western Slope has sharply reduced streamflow across the state, led to lower reservoir levels and prompted some Front Range cities to consider
paying to keep water that should be sent back to the Western Slope.
This spring, Colorado Springs Utilities diverted 6,500 acre-feet
of water from the Green Mountain reservoir in Summit County based
on streamflow projections by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
When the projections turned out to be too optimistic, the reservoir was left with a water shortage.
Now the water department is looking for ways to return about 600
acre-feet of water it took from the Blue River; Denver has to
return about 9,400 acre-feet.
The Colorado River Water Conservation District contends the
diversion adds to what is one of the more critical water shortages
in the state in the upper Blue River.
Rather than return the water, though, Springs Utilities
officials are thinking of leasing the water from the Colorado River
Water Conservation District to keep the water in its own
reservoirs.
"In previous years, we would have given it back, but this has
been a dry year," said Scott Howell, water rights administrator
for the city.
At $205 per acre foot, that comes to $123,000, and requires an
agreement between Springs Utilities, the conservation district and
the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
The district blames the shortage on poor precipitation and the
growing demand for water as the nearby ski resort towns of
Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and Keystone boom.
The district is urging cities to plan for how to handle future
water shortages, spokesman Chris Treese said.
"The message here is that we all, both the East and West Slope
Coloradans, live in an arid environment, and we have to have stored
water if we're to manage it," Treese said. "But sometimes Mother
Nature does what she wants and we must have some flexibility.
This spring, Colorado Springs Utilities diverted 6,500 acre-feet
of water from the Green Mountain reservoir in Summit County based
on streamflow projections by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
When the projections turned out to be too optimistic, the reservoir was left with a water shortage.
Now the water department is looking for ways to return about 600
acre-feet of water it took from the Blue River; Denver has to
return about 9,400 acre-feet.
The Colorado River Water Conservation District contends the
diversion adds to what is one of the more critical water shortages
in the state in the upper Blue River.
Rather than return the water, though, Springs Utilities
officials are thinking of leasing the water from the Colorado River
Water Conservation District to keep the water in its own
reservoirs.
"In previous years, we would have given it back, but this has
been a dry year," said Scott Howell, water rights administrator
for the city.
At $205 per acre foot, that comes to $123,000, and requires an
agreement between Springs Utilities, the conservation district and
the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
The district blames the shortage on poor precipitation and the
growing demand for water as the nearby ski resort towns of
Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and Keystone boom.
The district is urging cities to plan for how to handle future
water shortages, spokesman Chris Treese said.
"The message here is that we all, both the East and West Slope
Coloradans, live in an arid environment, and we have to have stored
water if we're to manage it," Treese said. "But sometimes Mother
Nature does what she wants and we must have some flexibility.
Previous Stories:
Additional Resources:- March 29, 2001: Colorado Snowpack Levels Increase
- February 5, 2001: Low Snowpack Worries Water Expert
- Colorado Snowpack Data
- Snotel Daily Precip Update
- Colorado Statewide Snowtel Graph
- Detailed Satellite Snow Cover Map
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