Uncharted Waters
More Diversions Proposed
The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District is expected to release the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for their Windy Gap Firming Project this fall. Their plan is to divert an additional 28,000 acre feet of water from the Colorado River at Windy Gap, through Lake Granby and over to the Front Range. Colorado Trout Unlimited is very concerned about this proposal for a number of reasons.
First, there isnÕt much water left in the upper Colorado system. These diversions could have serious implications for the health of the Colorado River and the fisheries above Kremmling. This includes the Gold Medal water below Parshall and Williams Fork. Second, when considered in light of the cumulative impacts from this project, combined with planned increased diversions out of the Fraser through Denver WaterÕs Moffat Collection system, the picture gets pretty bleak. The Fraser has already been reduced nearly to nothing. Even when these enlarged diversions are taken only during Òwet yearsÓ, the Colorado will not prosper. The upper Colorado will be condemned to a continual Òdry yearÓ flow, regardless of the snowpack. Add in the possibility of increased water removal from the Blue through Dillon and from the Williams Fork, and the entire river system upstream of Dotsero could be in trouble. After a century of diversions taking as much as 80% of the flow in Grand County, the drain on the upper Colorado isnÕt through yet.
So pray for snow, conserve as much water as possible, and please keep your eyes open for future action alerts on the upcoming Draft EIS!
Oil and Gas
Colorado Trout Unlimited and other groups in the West Slope Water Network had a victory in getting oil and gas development to behave responsibly in Colorado. On March 15 the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission decided not to grant the oil and gas industry an extension of their exemption from Storm Water Discharge regulations. The EPA had granted this exemption and extended it again to June of 2006.
The oil and gas industry, despite being one of the largest and most widespread land developers in the state, had been exempt from Storm Water Discharge regulations for the past six years. The Storm Water regulations ensure that ÒBest Management PracticesÓ are employed whenever someone disturbs more than an acre of land. Silt fencing, hay bales, retention basins and other measures are all used to keep sediment that erodes from these sites out of our rivers and streams. All land development work is required to comply with these regulations Ð except for oil and gas development.
The Water Quality Control Commission decided that the scientific and technical justification existed to make a more stringent rule for this industry than EPA. Sediment washing into our rivers and streams is one of the biggest water quality problems in Colorado, especially on the West Slope, and this ruling will ensure that oil and gas development operates with the same protections for water quality as are required for other developers. ThatÕs good news for ColoradoÕs trout.
Superfly Set for September
The Gunnison Angling Society chapter of Trout Unlimited has announced that the 2005 Superfly competition will be held on Septmber 10-11 in the upper Gunnison basin. Superfly, ColoradoÕs original one fly competition, provides participants with a great weekend of fishing and camaraderie. Registration is $500 per team, and includes beer and snacks on Friday night at the Almont Resort, breakfast, lunch, and barbecue dinner on Saturday, and of course, fishing on Saturday on two different beats on the East, Taylor, and Gunnison. This year will feature two new beats on private waters, one on the Gunnison and one on the Taylor. To reserve a space for your team, send your contact information and a $25 nonrefundable deposit to: Gunnison Angling Society, Box 1032, Gunnison, CO 81230. For more information, call chapter president Tra Lowell at 970-641-4243.
