The White River Alliance continues to promote awareness and community action about thirsty invasives. This past Saturday a team of White River Alliance members gathered to cut down Russian Olive trees growing near the river around Meeker. Elaeagnus Angustifolia (Russian Olive) was introduced here in the early 1900s from Europe[Read More…]
Tag: Water Conservation
Colorado River Compact discussed at CLUB-20
One hundred-years after the historic Colorado River Compact allocated 15 million acre feet of water between seven states in the arid west, the situation has grown dire. On June 15, US Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton issued a call to action for all seven states in the 1922 Compact[Read More…]
CONSERVATION CORNER: White River Flood Irrigation and Return Flows
One of the oldest irrigation methods is surface or flood irrigation where water flows down small furrows or over fields to water the crops. While water is running over a field it percolates through the soils. Plants use a portion of the water while much of it permeates deeper and[Read More…]
Are you wasting water?
Simple habit changes could save thousands of gallons of water RBC | It’s always a good idea to conserve water when you can, but with ongoing drought conditions in the county water conservation may become more of a requirement than an option. In June, Meeker’s Public Works Superintendent Russell Overton[Read More…]
SEEING GREEN …
Algae is apparent in the White River near the Texas Beach by Rangely, and is showing signs of increased growth. Recent oxygen saturation measurements indicate a large amount photosynthetic activity from the algae, which increase oxygen in the water during the day but sucks oxygen out of the water at[Read More…]
Looking back to when water was plentiful
RBC | During his 50 years in rural western Colorado, Jamie Jacobson has seen a lot of flooding. While caretaking a farm in 1974, Jacobson watched three acres of its riverfront float away. More recently, it’s been drought, and then worse drought. Jacobson farms on Lamborn Mesa, perched above Paonia,[Read More…]
River flow near record low
RBC | “Every organization needs a Cassandra and an Eeyore, and I’m it,” is how Dr. Bob Dorsett pre-empted his presentation to the White River Alliance last week. He discussed conditions on the White River, covering subjects like snowpack, streamflow projections, long term precipitation trends and algae blooms. Dr. Dorsett[Read More…]
Water storage topic of river Alliance meeting
RBC | Colorado Parks and Wildlife Water Resource Specialist David Graf shared a virtual presentation last Wednesday with White River Alliance members about the potential to expand Lake Avery by approximately 2500-5000 acre feet. He outlined several stages required for implementing such an expansion including a feasibility study, navigating various[Read More…]
Conservation Corner: Soil☺ Moisture
Soil health plays an important role in the success of any agricultural operation. This is especially true of soil moisture. Soil acts as a major storage reservoir for moisture. According to NRCS, soil with just 1% of organic matter in the top 6 inches of soil can hold approximately 27,000[Read More…]
Conservation Corner: Is Your Water Right on the Abandonment List?
For more information visit this link: Abandonment and Partial Abandonment Outline 20201207(1).pdf – Google Drive
Water court trial for Wolf Creek project starts Jan. 4
RBC | As its trial date in water court approaches, hundreds of pages of depositions obtained by Aspen Journalism reveal state engineers’ sticking points regarding a proposed reservoir project they oppose in northwest Colorado. Over a few days in November, state attorneys subpoenaed and interviewed several expert witnesses and the[Read More…]
Water districts prep for extended drought period
RBC | On Nov. 30 Governor Jared Polis sent a “memorandum of drought emergency” to executive directors of state government departments. The memo marks the beginning of phase 3 “full plan activation” of the state’s Drought Mitigation and Response Plan. The memo said “deep and persistent drought conditions” had covered[Read More…]