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Posted inThe Roundup

The Roundup | Proposed storage project is a complicated solution to shortages

Heather Sackett by Heather Sackett September 3, 2021September 9, 2021
Aspen Journalism: Local, Non-Profit, Investigative
The Roundup newsletter: A weekly roundup of Aspen Journalism’s original stories with a letter from the newsroom and The Bucket, a selection of news from other sources.
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Proposed Uncompahgre basin project is a complicated solution to shortages

Ouray County Water Users Association and others are hoping to satisfy upstream water shortages with a project designed to satisfy downstream calls. The Ram’s Horn Reservoir, proposed for the headwaters of Cow Creek, a pipeline and a complex exchange would store water for the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association. The idea is that when this downstream senior user places a call, the water could be released from Ram’s Horn and Ridgway reservoirs so that junior users — like the Ouray County Water Users — could continue using their own water. Yes, it’s complicated.

But the three-pronged project is facing opposition from state agencies who say impounding and moving water around could cause impacts to fish as well as the state’s instream flow water rights for environmental purposes. According to temperature data from Colorado Parks & Wildlife, temperatures in Cow Creek already exceed a state standard for trout. Taking more water from the stream would likely increase temperatures even more and cause fish mortality. Division Engineer Bob Hurford also recommended denial of the exchange portion of the application, which he said has to be more precisely dialed-in. 

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Ram’s Horn Reservoir, which would hold 25,000 acre-feet, is part of the Bureau of Reclamation’s Dallas Creek Project from the 1950s. The project calls for five reservoirs in the upper Uncompahgre River basin. Ridgway Reservoir is the only one of the five that has been built. There are many such potential water projects throughout Colorado that have conditional water rights and are just waiting for the water rights holders to go through water court to get their plans approved and build the projects.

The Ram’s Horn/Cow Creek project underscores the tendency of Colorado water managers to turn to expanding or creating new storage as one of the first solutions to water shortages. Ouray County Water Users Association attorney Marti Whitmore — who also serves on the board of the Colorado River Water Conservation District, another of the project applicants — is a proponent of more storage in the upper Uncompahgre River basin. She says fish flows are important and they are working to create a project that is a win-win for everyone. 

The opposition covered in this week’s story are just a few of the many issues associated with this project. In addition to the state of Colorado, there are other high-profile opposers, including conservation group Western Resource Advocates and the billionaire fashion-designer-turned-Ouray-County-rancher Ralph Lauren. Aspen Journalism will continue covering the twists and turns of this project as it makes its way through water court.

Thanks for reading and supporting our growing newsroom.

— Heather Sackett, water desk editor

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Credit: Heather Sackett/Aspen Journalism

Ouray County water project faces opposition from state, others

By Heather Sackett | August 30, 2021

The goal of the project is to prevent the UVWUA — one of the big senior water rights holders in the Gunnison River basin — from placing a call on the river.

Continue reading…

Data dashboard: July traffic in Aspen rebounds from 2020 but remains historically low

By Laurine Lassalle | September 3, 2021

• The Roaring Fork River at Stillwater ran at 29.9 cfs on Sept. 1, down from 41.4 cfs last week.
• July average daily traffic counts in Aspen reached 25,844, up 8.7% from July 2020 but down 0.9% from July 2019.

Continue reading…

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Tracking the Curve

Documenting COVID-19 in Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield counties

By Laurine Lassalle | September 3, 2021

Eagle County reported 42 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, Garfield County added 17 cases and Pitkin County reported seven cases. Eagle County added one COVID-19 related deaths on its dashboard on Aug. 31, raising the total death count to 29.

Continue reading…

The Bucket: A selection of stories of interest to readers with a stake in Aspen and the Colorado River basin
A selection of stories of interest to those with a stake in Aspen and the Colorado River basin we’ve been reading from other news sources this week.

Wildfire smoke now has the biggest impact on Aspen’s air quality of any pollution source

“According to Whitcomb, air quality in the Aspen area has been great over the last decade and she attributes a lot of that to the city’s efforts to reduce air pollution from things like cars and wood-burning fireplaces. But Whitcomb said wildfire smoke has become more noticeable in the last four years and she’s concerned about the future.”
Source: aspenpublicradio.org | Read more

Aspen company refuses to give COVID test to conservative activist; owners stand behind decision

“‘We cannot support anyone who has pro-actively worked to make this pandemic worse by spreading misinformation, politicizing and discouraging the wearing of masks and actively dissuading people from receiving life-saving vaccinations’ said Lee’s email to Owens, which was dated Aug. 31.”
Source: aspentimes.com | Read more

Horowitz: No last-minute mask mandate for JAS Labor Day

“All attendees, staff and volunteers ages 12 and older will be required to show proof of full vaccination or a negative test result (up to 72 hours in advance of the event), along with photo ID. Children 11 and under will be required to provide a negative test result for admission.”
Source: aspendailynews.com | Read more

A recent timber sale is about to send 250 giant logging trucks through a pristine Grand Mesa Nordic skiing area

“This summer, the council learned that the offering of 345 acres in the Kannah Creek Timber Sale had been amended and ‘re-offered’ to make it more attractive to loggers. The price was lowered and the hauling time to remove the lumber was changed to winter months so that it would be easier to remove the wood over frozen and snow-packed ground.”
Source: coloradosun.com | Read more

Worrying About Your Carbon Footprint Is Exactly What Big Oil Wants You to Do

“A coal-powered business could be entirely carbon neutral as long as it stops some landfill gas in Malaysia from entering the atmosphere equal to the emissions it’s still releasing. American fossil fuel dependence would remain intact, and planet-warming emissions would continue to rise.” 
Source: nytimes.com | Read more

Aspen art exhibit takes aim at the billionaire space race

“Tucked inside what she describes as the ‘temple to the endgame of space travel’ lies a dirt battleground where toy soldiers and astronauts fight over the last living plant. Illustrations like this are what Axe envisions the future to look like without a greater appreciation for sustaining life on Earth.”
Source: rmpbs.com | Read more

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Heather Sackett

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... More by Heather Sackett

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