Special to the HT RBC | Sediment and other water quality issues related to the recent wildfires near Meeker were a topic at the August meeting of the board for the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District (RBWCD). Rio Blanco County is working on a collaborative post-fire remediation plan and[Read More…]
Tag: Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District
Over-appropriation proposed on White River upstream from Taylor Draw Dam/ Kenney Res.
Existing well permits should be checked for accuracy, new residential permits likely limited to in-house only use. RBC | Compared to most other rivers and watersheds in the state, the White River Basin has seen less active state-level water administration since its inception in 1891. While water-rights holders who divert[Read More…]
Takeaways from the January 2025 Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District board meeting
Special to the HT RBC | The most striking takeaway from the January meeting of the Rio Blanco Water Conservation District was research shared by Director Alden Vanden Brink showing a nearly one-third drop in irrigation water use from the White River in Rio Blanco County. Data from the Natural[Read More…]
Updates from the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District
RBC | At the December board meeting in Rangely, members of the board voted to keep the Mill Levy the same as prior year. In addition: • Submitted new purpose and need for Wolf Creek Reservoir to the Army Corp of Engineers. Two earlier versions submitted had been sent back[Read More…]
Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District receives loan for turbine repair
RBC | The RBWCD board met on Oct. 30 at their regularly scheduled board meeting. Discussion included: Loan for Turbine Repair The board approved a loan for $2.5 million with a different vendor than the one that had been expected. General Electric had been expected to be the contractor to[Read More…]
River District grants $550K more for reservoir project
Wolf Creek Reservoir will need Army Corps permit RBC | A reservoir project in northwest Colorado has secured more funding from the Colorado River Water Conservation District, this time with the money earmarked for permitting required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. At its April meeting, the River District[Read More…]
River call expected soon
RBC | White River basin water users upstream from Taylor Draw Dam at Kenney Reservoir have been notified that the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District is planning to request another call on the White River. Once flows at the dam’s hydropower turbine are consistently below 700 cubic feet per second[Read More…]
More questions about Wolf Creek
MEEKER | Seeking answers to multiple questions posed about the White River Water Storage Project (Wolf Creek Reservoir), Meeker’s Board of Trustees welcomed Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District District Manager Director Alden Vanden Brink and project manager Wade Haerle of Vanoco Consulting to Tuesday’s meeting. Vanden Brink and Haerle responded[Read More…]
CORA sheds light on missing funds, but questions remain
RBC | “I’m trying to thread a needle here, while having an upset public, without screwing up a process — a legal process and investigation,” said Alden Vanden Brink, director of the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District (RBWCD). He spoke to the HT regarding the ongoing FBI investigation into the[Read More…]
BOCC Work Sessions
RBC | Commissioners met with the Langdon Group about the White River Water Supply project (also called Wolf Creek Reservoir). The self-described “third party neutral conflict resolution” company was hired by the Department of Interior to facilitate public involvement leading up to a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process that[Read More…]
RBWCD engages special counsel for lost funds, drafts CORA policy
RANGELY | The Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District (RBWCD) voted to engage Denver-based law firm Otteson Shapiro as special counsel to help recover lost CCITF funds. “They are moving forward with filing our claim with the Colorado Special Districts Association, property and liability pool and also with ColoTrust to help[Read More…]
More on open meetings
This is part 7 of a series exploring Rio Blanco County’s special districts, how they are funded, and their transparency practices. Read part 1: The ins and outs of special tax districts Part 2: Explainer: how special districts work Part 3: Recreation in Rio Blanco County: WRBM and ERBM Part 4: Rio Blanco County’s[Read More…]