Patterson framed the issue not as a fight among water users, but as an unevenly built safety net in times of shortage.
Category: Water
Our water desk, staffed by Heather Sackett, produces the most authoritative reporting available on Roaring Fork and upper Colorado river basin water policy and politics.
Posted inWater
River District concerned legal tools for conservation program could favor some regions over others
The irrigation districts of the Grand and Uncompahgre valleys are close to the state line and the Upper Gunnison Valley is just above Blue Mesa, so the majority of water conserved in these locations will get to where it needs to go without the state Division of Water Resources having to actively shepherd it.
Posted inWater
How low can the Colorado River go? A slow float on the 15-mile reach
Graf said the program was responsible for about 70% of the water in the river during Tuesday’s float; without it, flows could have dipped to around just 25 cfs.
Posted inWater
Fryingpan River to see high flows as Ruedi releases increase
Water managers say flooding on the Fryingpan begins to be a concern around 800 cfs; River District officials say water managers will aim to keep the river below 700 cfs.
Posted inWater
With fields already fallow, Uncompahgre Valley growers adapt to a drier future
Pope brings up an inherent contradiction about Upper Basin conservation: How can agricultural water users cut back when they already don’t have enough in drought years like this?
Posted inWater
Colorado water officials announce creation of state-run conservation program
But details were scant on exactly how much water Colorado will contribute to the program and how the saved water would be used.
Posted inWater
PitCo commissioners voice initial approval for another water buy
Members of the county’s Healthy Rivers board, which advises the BOCC, are concerned that the water will have a small impact on river health but a big impact on the program’s budget.
Posted inWater
Western Slope lawmakers take Colorado River managers to task
Roberts’ line of questioning seemed prompted by recent projections that show river flows dipping below a threshold that could trigger litigation.
Posted inWater
Colorado River experts say agriculture must make permanent cuts to water use
Some in the academic community are advocating for the federal government to either set up a voluntary program to buy and retire lands that use a lot of water or pay landowners who agree to permanent restrictions on water use.
Posted inWater
Feds say new Colorado River plan will be short-term
In the absence of a seven-state deal for sharing shortages and managing reservoirs, river management now falls to the federal government — an outcome nearly everyone had hoped to avoid.
