Category: Water

First, ice jammed the plant’s spillway in February, damaging equipment that required repair. Then the Grizzly Peak Fire burned down its transmission lines.

“It was the one issue that’s not partisan, that was about uniting a very politically diverse region,” according to River District general manager Andy Mueller.

DWR officials say undecreed ponds throughout the region are depleting the Colorado River system in a time when a climate change-fueled drought makes it more important than ever to account for every last drop of water.

Annual demand-management payments across western Colorado would total almost $5.9 million under the moderate scenario and nearly $24 million under the aggressive scenario.

Inspectors at Ruedi Reservoir reel in highest number of vessels in state this season.

While policy across Colorado is still catching up to the dry conditions today, models for the upcoming year indicate that the state may need to brace for another poor water year in 2021.

But as western Colorado continues its shift to an outdoor-recreation and tourism-based economy, supporters of 7A agree with Mueller that the River District’s focus is shifting with it.

Comparing consumption with non-drought year shows less-dramatic reduction.

Water utilities report higher than average consumption.