FLOOD10327 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ed and where, when and how much water is returned to the Eagle River. The following is a description of in-basin water users and typi- cal return flows: 1. Domestic users take water out, treat it, provide it for homes, and businesses, treat it at a waste water treatment facili- ty (typically down river from the diver- sion), and then return approximately 90% of the water originally diverted. However, it should be acknowledged that there can be a significant depletion in stream flow between the points where water is diverted and returned at a waste water treatment plant. Highest level of in-basin use typically occurs in the winter due to the tourism industry and when water flows are lowest. 2. Snowmaking usually takes water from the river in October, November and December when flows are typically low- est. Approximately 80% of the water is returned during the spring melt when flow is high and the rest is lost to evapo- ration. 3. Golf Courses also divert water for irri- gation. A well managed golf course uses water efficiently in that they only divert what is needed to maintain the turf However, well managed golf courses are considered to be 100% consumptive because there is typically no measurable return flow. In other words, the water applied to a well managed golf course is used by the grass and is lost to evapora- tion with no measurable water running back into the watershed. 4. Agricultural users in Eagle County take water out at established diversion points through irrigation systems to grow feed for livestock. Return flows can vary sig- nificantly depending on the quality of the irrigation system but can range up to 50%, with the rest being lost to evapora- " , 'I tion, plant use and deep percolation. Agricultural return flows can be valuable in augmenting late summer flows through the slow (relative to surface run off) lateral percolation of water from irri- gated fields to streams. Although domes- tic water usage may be more efficient than agriculture, agricultural land can have a significant benefit to return flows during the later part of the summer when natural stream flows are low. The relative consumptive use of irrigation and domestic use is a critical issue in Eagle County and must be examined more fully as agricultural uses diminish in the watershed. In-Basin Water Management Within the watershed there are several enti- ties that manage supply and distribution, according to their particular water rights. The majority of these entities were specifically created in response to a specific land devel- opment project with the exception of the town-owned and operated systems. Nearly every district has a board of directors that oversees operation: Arrowhead Metro Water District Beaver Creek Metro Water District Bellyache Ridge Metro Water District Berry Creek Metro Water District Eagle- Vail Metro Water District Edwards Metro Water District Lake Creek Meadows Water District Squaw Creek Metro Water District Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority Upper Eagle Valley Consolidated Sanitation District* Vail Valley Consolidated Water District Town of Minturn Town of Red Cliff Town of Avon Town of Eagle Town of Gypsum "UEVCSD manages water and sanitationfor all of the listed districts and the sanitation for the Towns of Minturn and Avon. ~~ ~ ..... 21