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 creating a response team to help gather information that will aid mitigation of present and future watershed damages from the fire. With the last rainstorms substantial water quality issues have already arisen.
Betty Kracht, Rio Blanco County Water Commissioner from Division of Water Resources (DWR) gave an update on the status of the river. During the first part of the month, river flows dropped to alarming levels with shortages seen in the Town of Rangely and west of Rangely. The big ditches around Meeker all voluntarily left 5-8 cfs of water in the river, which was shepherded to the Town of Rangely. By Aug. 19 there was an increase of 35-40 cfs in the river at Rangely. Erin Light with DWR addressed the board and discussed future administration on the river and how that would look. If the Taylor Draw Power Conduit requested a call, the Taylor Draw Dam, Kenney Reservoir, would have to figure out how to reduce the level of the reservoir to account for the evaporation in the system.
Right now, the Board is unsure whether to request a call due to the sediment in the river and uncertainties related to the fires. She also commented that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law money intended to help with measuring devices is getting closer to being available to water users.
The hydro power turbine is having the face seal repaired. It is tentatively scheduled to be in Rangely and installed within the next couple weeks. Once installed, the contractors and RBWCD will finish performing the wet tests and hopefully be back up and running as soon as possible.
According to Executive Director Alden Vanden Brink, there was a very good response to the survey with approximately 200 surveys being done. Vanden Brink mentioned he and his office were assisting with the filling out of surveys and are gathering the results on this survey and the other surveys. The agriculture survey is still underway along with the Rangely water needs assessment. The Wolf Creek project is progressing with the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) studies and reports with drafts being created though no “Need and Purpose” has yet been approved.
The next meeting is Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the RBWCD office.
