Beginning high in the Elk Mountains, the Crystal River flows 40 miles through three counties, cutting a canyon under the flanks of Mount Sopris and winding past the towns of Marble, Redstone and Carbondale before joining with the Roaring Fork River. Along the way, its waters turn mesa hayfields, acres of alfalfa and Carbondale parks […]
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
Lower basin calls for upper basin cuts; upper basin says ‘no way’
The upper basin’s proposal, however, says the four states will pursue “parallel activities” that include voluntary, temporary and compensated reductions in use, although the upper basin states do not offer a specific amount of water that they will conserve.
Posted inWater
Pitkin County exploring concern that Shoshone deal could harm Roaring Fork
Pitkin County in November hired Golden-based engineering firm Martin and Wood Water Consultants to do a technical analysis and modeling of the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers.
Posted inWater
Auction of Colorado River water nets $4.7 million
According to Shuman, of the 15 buyers, six were farmers; four were dairies; two were developers; two were municipalities and one was a farm foundation.
Posted inWater
Colorado Springs agrees to give up water rights for Summit County reservoirs
On Jan. 16, the River District board approved the settlement agreement, which includes a commitment from Colorado Springs that the utility will support the River District’s efforts at securing the Shoshone water right.
Posted inWater
Presentation details Lincoln Creek contamination but solutions unclear
Panelists addressed the potential human health impacts from the contaminated water in the creek and at Grizzly Reservoir, a popular spot for summer camping, hiking and fishing.
Posted inWater
Bill limiting nonfunctional turf planting clears Colorado Senate
“If we don’t have to start watering that turf in the first place, we never have to replace it in the future,” state Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, a co-sponsor, said in making the case for the proposed new state standard.
Posted inWater
Company drops bid for Thompson Creek reservoir water rights
Companies have been able to hang onto these conditional water rights in some cases for over 50 years without using them because Colorado water law allows a would-be water user to reserve their place in the priority system based on when they applied for the right — not when they put water to use — while they work toward developing the water.
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Company with oil and gas interests seeking to keep rights alive for reservoir on Thompson Creek
The reason Puckett has been able to hold on to water rights that are nearly 60 years old without putting them to beneficial use lies in a quirk of Colorado water law that at least one scholar says needs to be reformed.
Posted inWater
Climate report projects continued warming and declining streamflows for Colorado
This warming, which scientists are very confident will come to pass, will drive the other water system changes that Colorado can expect to see.