Dialogue Continues on the DCP
Nearly 70 people packed DWCD’s conference room on January 9 for the Southwest Basin Roundtable meeting and a two-hour pre-meeting on the draft drought contingency plan (DCP). The dialogue among Roundtable members and the CWCB was engaging and informative. On everyone’s mind was the pending deadline issued by Reclamation Commissioner Burman: if the seven basin states do not agree to a DCP by January 31, Reclamation will begin a process to address drought on the Colorado River, which may include imposing shortages in the Lower Basin.
Brent Newman and Celene Hawkins answered DCP questions and provided the CWCB perspective. They invited water user input, and emphasized a clear delineation between compact curtailment and demand management. Quelling any rumors, the CWCB stated that they are not evaluating preemptive or anticipatory curtailment, and in fact have encouraged transparency in the State Engineer’s consideration of any curtailment on the Colorado River.
John Currier, River District, conveyed details of Phase III of the Risk Study now in progress, which is being jointly funded by the River District and SWCD. The Dolores Water Conservancy District, the Florida Water Conservancy Districts, Pine River Irrigation District, and La Plata Archuleta Water District have also committed funds to allow for additional questions to be reviewed.
As for the Roundtable, its “DCP-DM” subcommittee has met three times so far, and is working to digest complex Big River details for dissemination through our local stakeholder, as well as generate southwest-Colorado specific questions regarding Colorado River management. See the
DCP-DM tab on the website for the documents developed so far. SWCD continues to coordinate closely with the River District in outreach to the Western Slope on these topics as well.
Funding 416 Fire Recovery Efforts and More
At the January meeting, the Roundtable recommended the following projects for state funding: a water supply and storage study for the Town of Silverton, phase two of the Telluride Valley Floor Restoration, a stakeholder engagement process for the San Miguel Stream Management Plan, post-416 fire ditch system rehabilitation in the Animas basin, three years of the Forest to Faucets Teacher Training Program, and post-416 fire aquatic monitoring efforts.
If approved by the CWCB in March, these grants will bring that Southwest Basin Account balance to $211,088. Given the recent decline in severance tax revenue, the Roundtable has capped requests at $25,000, and only considers them twice a year (January and July). For more information on how to apply for WSRF funding,
click here. Want to know what WSRF funded in 2018? Read the
annual report.
CWCB Projects Bill, Statewide Water Supply Initiative
CWCB has released their
Projects Bill for 2019, which serves as the agency’s request for appropriations by the Colorado General Assembly. The 2019 request includes $20 million for water plan implementation, and within that $5.5 million for water plan update efforts. The bill also includes increases in watershed restoration funding and $2.5 million for WSRF supplemental funding to offset variability in severance tax revenues.
The Statewide Water Supply Initiative will be released in July 2019 at
coloradowaterplan.com, with pieces being shared in advanced as they become available. Stay tuned!
Next Steps for the Interbasin Compact Committee
In 2018, the IBCC was hard at work on state water plan funding opportunities, as it supported the Gates and Walton Foundations in providing a list of recommendations. However, with the sound defeat of two statewide tax increases to fund roads in November 2018, the group evaluating potential options for funding the state water plan is regrouping to revisit their recommendations and consider new alternatives. The next IBCC meeting will be on February 28, and the likely topic of discussion will be drought contingency planning.
BREAKING IBCC NEWS: Pagosa Springs resident and long-time Roundtable member Mely Whiting has been appointed to the IBCC by Governor Polis. Congrats Mely, and yahoo for more southwestern Colorado voices in this important statewide body!
Save these Dates
The next Southwest Basin Roundtable meeting will be April 10, 2019 at the Durango Public Library. Check the
website for details. The Statewide Roundtable Summit will be in Winter Park on September 25-26, 2019 (
register here).
LPWWA is requesting proposals from qualified individuals or firms to oversee and manage operations of the first phase of its distribution system, which is currently under construction and anticipated to provide service in late 2019. The manager should reside or be located within or in proximity to the LPWWA service area, which includes most of southwestern La Plata County. Download the request for proposal with full details at 
DARCA is the definitive resource for networking, information exchange, and advocacy among ditch and reservoir companies, irrigation districts, laterals, and private ditches. 
