He also pointed out that requiring the upper basin, where most of the river’s flows originate as snowpack, to contribute the same fixed amount each year despite declining flows means that the upper basin is unfairly bearing the brunt of climate change.
Author Archives: Heather Sackett
Heather Sackett is the managing editor at Aspen Journalism and the editor and reporter on the Water Desk. She has also reported for The Denver Post and the Telluride Daily Planet. Heather has a master’s degree from CU’s Center for Environmental Journalism and her reporting has been recognized by the Colorado Press Association.
Posted inWater
Glenwood Canyon monitoring project gets funding for second phase
The cascade of dirty water also had impacts to agricultural and municipal water users downstream in Silt, whose only source of water is the Colorado.
Posted inWater
Aspen officials release plan laying out 50 years of water projects
Storing water specifically until an emergency occurs is not a decreed beneficial use under Colorado water law. But municipal water providers often have a lot of leeway to plan for future needs, which could include storage projects.
Posted inWater
Ouray County asks state water board to delay filing aimed at instream flow protection
The CWCB, at the recommendation of Colorado Parks & Wildlife, is seeking instream flow protections for a 7.4-mile reach of Cow Creek — from its confluence with Lou Creek to its confluence with the Uncompahgre River, downstream of Ridgway Reservoir.
Posted inThe Roundup
The Roundup | Water speculation in the hot seat at the Capitol
A note from Water Desk Editor Heather Sackett, this week’s original stories from Aspen Journalism, and other news items of interest.
Posted inWater
Investment water speculation bill clears committee
The draft bill gives the state engineer at the Department of Water Resources the ability to investigate complaints of investment water speculation and fine a purchaser up to $10,000 if they determine speculation is occurring.
Posted inWater
Wolf Creek reservoir project secures River District grant
Rio Blanco estimates the permitting will take three to five years at a cost of $6 to $10 million.
Posted inWater
Streamflows in southern half of upper Colorado River basin declining faster
Another question is: If there is a compact call, how would state engineers administer it so that already water-short basins aren’t forced to cut back even more?
Posted inWater
River District report highlights Western Slope concerns with state water-savings plan
Other findings of the report are consistent with what River District and agriculture representatives have been saying since the state began its demand-management discussions in 2019: A program must not lead to the permanent dry-up of Western Slope agriculture, and additional diversions to the Front Range are in direct conflict with asking Western Slope water users to save water.
Posted inWater
Steamboat looks to new program to address high river temperatures
Because the river is classified as impaired, city officials expect that when CDPHE issues a new discharge permit for the city’s wastewater-treatment plant, it will include more-stringent water temperature standards.