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Old 12-19-2012, 08:37 PM
 
2,253 posts, read 6,957,630 times
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The project, known as the Moffat Collection System Project, would raise the height of the existing dam at the reservoir by 125 feet, allowing it to store an additional 72,000 acre-feet of water for use during possible droughts in the Denver area. [1]


Seemingly Denver Water will have its way in this, although take a look at the photo of Gross Reservoir (located southwest of Boulder) and imagine the existing dam 125 feet higher to comprehend what is proposed.

This would appear to be the consequence of a growing population in conjunction with a changing climate and ongoing drought.

1) 'Boulder County seeks public input on Gross Reservoir expansion agreement,' Daily Camera
Boulder County seeks public input on Gross Reservoir expansion agreement - Boulder Daily Camera

 
Old 01-11-2013, 05:47 PM
 
2,253 posts, read 6,957,630 times
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Wink Report on changing American climate

"Surface and groundwater supplies in many regions are already stressed by increasing demand for water as well as declining runoff and groundwater recharge. In many regions, climate change increases the likelihood of water shortages and competition for water among agricultural, municipal, and environmental uses. The western U.S. relies heavily on mountain snowpack for water storage, and spring snowpack is declining in most of the West." [1]


The draft version of a 1,000 page report on the changing American climate, by a bevy of more than 300 scientists and various experts, is publicly available.

A brief overview of this report, and mention of such emerging trends public health emergencies, food shortages, power blackouts, and so forth, are provided in an article of The Guardian. [2]

As this is a draft version, good luck looking for specific date, although reams of it present. For Colorado, perhaps first check the "Southwest" chapter. Here is one tidbit from it:
"The region has experienced severe, 50-year-long mega-droughts over the past 2000 years. Future droughts are projected to be substantially hotter, and for major river basins, such as the Colorado River Basin, drought is projected to become more frequent, intense, and longer lasting than in the historical record (Cayan et al. 2012). These drought conditions present a huge challenge for regional management of water resources and natural hazards like wildfire." [3]

1) 'Climate Change and the American People,' NCADAC
http://ncadac.globalchange.gov/downl...-fulldraft.pdf
***
Alternatively, the full pdf report, or individual chapters of same, can be downloaded from this site:
Federal Advisory Committee Draft Climate Assessment Report Released for Public Review | National Climate Assessment Development Advisory Comittee

2) 'Climate change set to make America hotter, drier and more disaster-prone,' The Guardian
Climate change set to make America hotter, drier and more disaster-prone | Environment | guardian.co.uk

3) 'Southwest,' NCADAC
http://ncadac.globalchange.gov/downl...-southwest.pdf
 
Old 01-11-2013, 10:26 PM
 
Location: CO/UT/AZ/NM Catch me if you can!
6,926 posts, read 6,884,708 times
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Great info - thanks! Ties in with my thread voicing concern over the forests on Colorado Western Slope.
 
Old 01-12-2013, 05:46 PM
 
2,253 posts, read 6,957,630 times
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Wink NM water law as portent of Colorado's?

“(I)f the State Engineer does not have some kind of ability to regulate water rights in the absence of a full adjudication ... you might as well pack your bags ... and have chaos in the state in terms of how you administer water rights.”
— Former State Engineer Eluid Martinez [1]



As New Mexico is the naturally drier cousin of Colorado, what happens there in water law may portend how Colorado's will evolve in time due worsening drought conditions.

The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled in November—due a lawsuit brought by the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, a consortium of 44 electric cooperatives in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming—that the provisions of AWRM (Active Water Resource Management) as previously struck down by a lower court, can stand.[2] Or, that New Mexico's State Engineer, Scott Verhines, can have near full authority to adjudicate water resources and disputes in real time, prior to any later legal rulings. He, or following state engineers, will decide.

There has been the concern, and argued, that allowing such authority would supersede the constitutional right of water holders to fully adjudicate any claims prior to possible loss of water use. As now decided, the State Engineer will decide first and in the moment, and the rest can work itself out later.

Following the particularly dry year of 2002 in New Mexico, bills were introduced in its legislature in 2003 towards greater authority in administration of water resources. This the precursor to AWRM. A fuller discussion of that can be had with resource number one.

With increasing population, and declining water resources, it seems that greater contention over them is inevitable. Formally presumed access to water and the legal right to it may not be as certain in future.

1) 'Active Water Resource Management,' Utton Transboundary Resources Center, University of New Mexico
http://uttoncenter.unm.edu/pdfs/Wate...rce%20Mgmt.pdf

2) 'High court sides with state engineer on water rules,' Santa Fe New Mexican
High court sides with state engineer on water rules - The Santa Fe New Mexican
 
Old 01-15-2013, 10:35 AM
 
1,742 posts, read 3,103,529 times
Reputation: 1943
Here we go. Scary summer coming up.
Fees, conservation on tap for Colorado Springs | News - Home
 
Old 01-15-2013, 11:11 AM
 
Location: Wherabouts Unknown!
7,841 posts, read 18,925,448 times
Reputation: 9579
proveick wrote: Here we go. Scary summer coming up.

Summers aren't scary. They just are. People scare themselves by thinking scary thoughts!
 
Old 01-15-2013, 10:47 PM
 
930 posts, read 1,644,595 times
Reputation: 798
I was surprised that we didn't have water restrictions last year in the Springs. I guess when you waste incredible amounts of water, you need to completely restrict it later. I find this short sighted. Maybe someone with better knowledge can come and enlighten me.
 
Old 01-18-2013, 11:30 AM
 
Location: Pueblo - Colorado's Second City
12,259 posts, read 24,350,175 times
Reputation: 4395
Exclamation Brace for another dry year

I read in the paper today where they are forecasting a dry year. It will be interesting to see if any cities go on water restrictions. So far they say Pueblo will not have to.

This is from the Chieftain:


Imagine back-to-back years as dry as 2002. That’s one scenario taking shape for the Arkansas Valley, and it was discussed at length Thursday by the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District board.“Those who expect to see water in the Arkansas River during the spring and summer will not see that water. This is not an average year. It is an abnormal year,” Executive Director Jim Broderick said.


The link: Brace for another dry year - Pueblo Chieftain: Southern Colorado Water
 
Old 01-18-2013, 11:48 AM
 
1,742 posts, read 3,103,529 times
Reputation: 1943
Might be pretty sketchy for rafting this summer.
 
Old 01-18-2013, 11:51 AM
 
Location: CO/UT/AZ/NM Catch me if you can!
6,926 posts, read 6,884,708 times
Reputation: 16507
Cortez has been on water restrictions for at least the past 3 summers. I imagine this year will be no different.
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