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Water news and events for southwestern Colorado
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WATER INFORMATION PROGRAM 
June 2019 Newsletter
LOCAL NEWS

The National Weather Service Issues Flood Advisory for the Animas River

 
The Animas River just over 7000 CF as the DSNGRR train heads to Silverton, almost flooding tracks.
Photo by Hank Blum Photography

As temperatures rise and the snow-caps melt, we are seeing a steady increase of flows on the rivers. The Animas River peaked above 7,000 cubic feet per second Sunday, June 9, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
 
The National Weather Service had issued flood advisories for the Animas, La Plata and Los Pinos rivers last week, and are in effect until further notice. A peak in the Animas River over the weekend led to trails being closed in Farmington and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation decreasing flows from Navajo Dam.
 

Photo Courtesy of Jerry McBride/Durango Herald file

Landowners along Junction, Lightner and Vallecito creeks should also be on high alert. Boaters and kayakers should also be aware of high water conditions. It has been deemed unsafe for tubers to float on the rivers at this time as well. 

Water levels have begun to drop in surrounding rivers. Be sure to check conditions and take percautions if you plan to play in the rivers.  

For more on this story click here and here.

Temporary Radar Installed atop Missionary Ridge


A much needed radar system was installed atop Missionary Ridge to help track storms that could possibly cause flooding in from the 416 fire burn area. 
 

            

(credit: Thomas McNamara, La Plata County OEM) incoming storms that could possibly cause flooding from the 416 fire scar area.  
 

The radar is contracted through the University of Oklahoma and was funded by the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.  La Plata Electric Association has agreed to provide the electricity at no cost. .

With major hubs in Albuquerque, Grand Junction and Flagstaff, Arizona, the Four Corners has a blind spot when it comes to weather and radar modeling. Having this technology in the Four Corners area will give emergency responders advance warning to respond to impacted areas more quickly.

The project is a partnership between the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the University of Oklahoma. 

The temporary radar will remain atop Missonary Ridge through the end of September, when a  permanent location will be determined. 

For more on this story you can click on the following links: 
Durango Herald
Denver News

 

Another Successful Forest to Faucets: My Water Come From the San Juan Mountains Teacher Workshop

 

Lemon Reservoir
 
Teachers from around the various districts participated in a fun and educational Forest to Faucets training program put on by Mountain Studies Institute, Water Information Program, San Juan Mountains Association, and Fort Lewis College! 
 
This years program took place on June 5 - 6, 2019, and was held around the Durango area. The program consisted of two days of hands-on place-based teacher training learning about our watersheds, forest health, river health, where our water comes from and how it gets delivered to your tap. Our investigations were be based on the My Water Comes from the San Juan Mountains book and curriculum guide which includes place-based activities that address Colorado State standards.
 
     
Shauna Jensen from SJNF, talks about fires's impact on soils, erosion and watershed health

The workshop build teachers' capacity for teaching watershed science by providing place-specific knowledge and activities that can be easily integrated in science and social science curricula.

We would like to thank all of our sponsors and presenters who make this program possible. Thank you to Southwestern Water Conservation District, Water Information Program, Colorado Water Conservation Board/Southwest Basin Roundtable, Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education and Trout Unlimited 5 Rivers Chapter.

We look forward to next years program!
 

Our Animas  
Watershed + Community = Resilience


The Animas River Community Forum (ARCF) has published the educational booklet “Our Animas” about the local watershed.
 

With rising temperatures, flows surpassing 6,000 cfs last week and community attention on spring runoff, the release of the educational booklet “Our Animas” arrives just in time to answer local questions on the watershed’s conditions. 

With the memory of the Gold King Mine spill and the 416-Fire still fresh on the public’s minds, the Animas River Community Forum published this booklet to “answer the public's general concern about water safety, impacts to the river, and the river's ability to recover,” said Shannon Manfredi, coordinator for Animas River Community Forum during “Our Animas” production. The document presents locally collected data, promotes the understanding of river health, and shares actions that community members can take to support river resiliency.

The collection of data and writing of “Our Animas” was a collaborative effort between multiple community partners, including representatives from Animas Watershed Partnership, CO Parks and Wildlife, La Plata County, Mountain Studies Institute, Querencia Environmental, River Watch, San Juan Basin Public Health, San Juan Citizens Alliance, and Animas River Community Forum.  
 
This booklet will be updated every other year. 

Dive in and take a look here!
 
Around the State

Women in Water Scholarship Fund 


The Women in Water Scholarship Fund was inspired by the growing number of women in leadership positions in the Western community of water providers, engineers, managers, lawyers, scientists, communicators, government relations representatives and water conservationists.
 

Cheryl Zittle and Christine Arbogast are the president and vice-president respectively of the National Water Resources Association, and launched the idea of a purposeful Women in Water organization.

The Women in Water Scholarship Fund encourages young women to pursue fulfilling careers developing, managing and conserving water. This annual $5,000 scholarship is awarded to a woman pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in preparation for a career in any element of water resources, including water law, communications, community and government relations, or engineering.

The first scholarship will be awarded in the fall of 2019. The fall 2019 application deadline is July 1, 2019.

To apply for the Woman in Water Scholarship Fund click here.
 

Colorado's Huge Snowpack Causing Rivers at Near Flood Stage

 
With the statewide snowpack at 625% of normal as of this week, it could affect flood conditions, as snowmelt increases over the next few weeks.
 

Snowpack levels were the highest in three river basins in southwest Colorado:  2,014% of normal in the Gunnison; 1,277% in the San Miguel, Dolores, Animas and San Juan; and 697% through the Upper Rio Grande.

To find out more about river levels in your community, check out this report here.


You can also check out the Executive Summary released by CWCB that covers current conditions, forecasts, contacts, and suggestions for actions. Find it here.
 

STATE OF THE WATER STATE


CWCB Confluence Newsletter

Drought Free Colorado
Water Year 2018 (Oct 2017- Sept 2018) was the warmest and second driest on record for Colorado, with significant loss to crops and livestock, and multiple large wildfires. Since the onset of the drought and throughout 2018, the State’s Drought Task Force, in collaboration with the Agricultural Impact Task Force has been closely watching conditions and the impacts to all sectors- actively engaged in drought response efforts. Back in October we hoped for a banner snow accumulation season to replenish our reservoirs, parched soils, and put us on a road to recovery-- wow did we get it!
 

For full story from the CWCB click here

9th Annual Upper Colorado River Basin Water Forum: Tools for Adaptation

 


CALL FOR ABSTRACTS - DUE JUNE 30

 Nov 13 - 14, 2019
 Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO

Keynote:
Eric Kuhn, co-author of the forthcoming book
Science be Dammed: How Ignoring Inconvenient Science Drained the Colorado River 


This interdisciplinary forum promotes dialogue between scholars, policy makers and water users on how to address the water challenges facing the Upper Colorado River Basin. The theme, "Tools for Adaptation," can be interpreted broadly, to include new science, needs for new science, engineering methods, lessons learned, mechanisms for collaboration, communication strategies, legal approaches or water management strategies.

Full details and information on past forums are available here
 

Water Supply Analysis Technical
Webinar Series

 
The Colorado Water Plan Analysis (formerly, SWSI) serves as the technical backbone to the Water Plan. Leading up to the study's full release in July 2019, select data insights and tools will be released gradually for early stakeholder review. Check in here for general information on the project. Join us on June 25th, 2019 from 12-1:30 PM (MDT) for SWSI Tools & Next Steps. Register for the webinar here.
 

The WIP lending library has more than 200 water-related books and videos available for checkout. Stop by the office to find a book or DVD of interest to you.
 
 
Upcoming Events


June 18 - 21, 2019
Animas and San Juan Watersheds Conference:
Successes and Challenges from the Headwaters to Lake Powell
San Juan College, Henderson Fine Arts Center
Farmington, NM


June 20, 2019
West Slope Roundtable Summit
Ute Water Conservancy District
10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Grand Junction, CO

July 10, 2019
Southwest Basin Roundtable Meeting
Dolores Water Conservancy District
Cortez, Colorado
2:30 pm Social Half-Hour
3:00 pm Roundtable Meeting


August 20 - 22, 2019
Colorado Water Congress Summer Conference
The Steamboat Grand Hotel 
Steamboat Springs, CO

September 18, 2019
Colorado River District 6th Annual Water Seminar 

Colorado Mesa University - Meyer Ballroom
Grand Junction, CO 


September 24-26, 2019
San Juan Mining & Reclamation Conference + Silverton Innovation Expo
Silverton, CO

September 25, 2019
C-9: Statewide Summit of Colorado's 9 Basin Roundtables 
Headwaters Center
Winter Park, CO


November 1, 2019
SAVE THE DATE!

SWCD Annual Water Seminar
Durango, CO

November 13 - 14, 2019
9th Annual Upper Colorado River Basin Water Forum:
Tools for Adaptation
Colorado Mesa University,
Grand Junction, CO



Any events you would like to add? Send them to elaine@waterinfo.org.
More Information

Snow, flow & reservoir data

CWCB's Newsletter

Fresh Water News

Headwaters PULSE newsletter

Connecting the Drops Radio

Grants

WaterSMART's Cooperative Watershed Management Program

DOLA Resources: Water/Wastewater Treatment 

USDA Funding Opportunity - Rural Water Projects

Water Plan Grant Program

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Bureau of Reclamation Small Scale Water Efficiency Projects

Colorado Watershed Assembly Grants Bank 

NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program

Riparian Restoration funding opportunities

Jobs


SGM Engineering
SGM has several openings for engineers on the Western Slope

Co Rural Water Association

Colorado Waterwise Job Bank

Josh's Water Jobs

Rich listing of water jobs all over the world can be searched here.
The Water Information Program (WIP) provides balanced educational programming and resources to the people of the San Juan and Dolores watersheds. Thank you to our 25 partner organizations in southwestern Colorado--water districts, utilities, private stakeholders and environmental advocates--who make WIP possible!

Water Information Program
841 E Second Avenue
Durango, CO 81301
www.waterinfo.org

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