Colorado River District shares data at State of the River event
RBC | The White River State of the River meeting was held on April 5 in Rangely, presented by the Colorado River District. The meeting was well attended by the public with every seat filled.
Lindsay DeFrates, media specialist for the Colorado River District, opened the evening by welcoming the attendees and introducing many of the representatives from the various organizations who would be presenting. These included the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts, Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District, the Department of Water Resources, and the Colorado River District.
Erin Light, Division 6 engineer with the Department of Water Resources, presented first, and had news many land owners have been waiting to hear: the call on the White River was officially lifted April 3. The call–a first in recent memory–was put on the river Dec. 1, 2022, by the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District.
Light went on to share data on the current snowpacks and projected watersheds for northwestern Colorado. While the moisture received this year is setting us up for a great summer, Light presented data from previous years showing 2011 was one of the best years for moisture in our area, as well, only to be followed by 2012 as one of the driest. One “good” winter does not mean the longstanding drought conditions are over.
An update on area reservoirs as of March 2023 was also a part of Light’s presentation.
Yampa River:
- Stillwater Reservoir: 950 AF (23%)
- Yamcolo Reservoir: 5,828 AF (60%)
- Stagecoach Reservoir: 27,090 AF (74%)
- Fish Creek Reservoir: 1,785.55 AF (42.8%)
- Elkhead Creek Reservoir: 17,946 AF (72%)
White River:
- Lake Avery: Approx. Full
- Taylor Draw: Approx. Full
DeFrates was the next presenter, and focused on sharing information on what the Colorado River District’s mission is, the challenges they face, and the work they are currently doing.
The Colorado River District was formed in 1937. For more than 80 years they have been working to protect Western Colorado water. Today, their stated mission is, “to lead in the protection, conservation, use and development of the water resources of the Colorado River Basin for the welfare of the District and to safeguard for Colorado all waters of the Colorado River to which the state is entitled.”
DeFrates showed the stark realities of Colorado River water usage: where the water comes from, where it goes, and what is lost along the way. Specifically, DeFrates expressed the District’s frustration with California, where most of the Colorado River’s water goes and which is hardly regulated despite interstate agreements. You can find information and resources from the Colorado River District at coloradoriverdistrict.org.
Alden Vanden Brink, director of the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District, presented updates on the Taylor Draw Dam and the Wolf Creek Reservoir. Vanden Brink shared visuals of the damage that was repaired on the Taylor Draw Dam, and explained why the sediment build up in Kenney Reservoir has made it unviable for water storage. Thus, according to Vanden Brink, there’s a need for the Wolf Creek Reservoir. Because the reservoir would not be directly on the White River, sediment build up would not reduce its lifespan the way it did in Kenney Reservoir. With Wolf Creek, the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District hopes to create a municipal water supply within northwestern Colorado for the Town of Rangely, a new endangered fish environment, flatwater recreation, agricultural water supply, and hydropower. When asked how much funding was still available for the White River Regional Water Supply Project (aka Wolf Creek) after the recent theft of a ‘significant amount’, Vanden Brink was not able to comment. An FBI investigation is ongoing.
The meeting wrapped up at 8 p.m. with questions from the attendees.
By ADRIENNE WIX – Special to the Herald Times
