Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Colorado Big Thompson project: Agriculture on lower South Platte takes two times the water <br />that Denver takes. It was authorized in the 1930s and built in the 1940s and 1950s. <br /> <br />Green Mountain Reservoir's water is split 1/3 to the eastern slope and 2/3 to the western slope. <br />Western slope uses water mainly for agriculture in Grand Valley. <br /> <br />Denver's water systems are the Moffatt and Platte (Roberts Tunnel) systems. Denver looked to <br />the Blue River because of its proximity to the Platte. Denver also created Dillon Reservoir. <br /> <br />In the 1950s Denver obtained an absolute water right in the Dillon Reservoir. Courts said that <br />Denver's Dillon Reservoir right was junior to Green Mountain Reservoir. Since it was junior to <br />Green Mountain, it wasn't feasible. <br /> <br />So: The Blue Mountain decree has always been problematic. <br /> <br />Conflict today is how we protect western slope's interest in Green Mountain Reservoir. The <br />more Denver takes out of Dillon, the less Green Mountain Reservoir gets. <br /> <br />Blue River water decree was in 1950s. The federal government owned the water. <br /> <br />Eric recommended book by Dan Tyler, CSU, The Last Water Hole in the West, about the <br />Colorado Big Thompson Project. <br /> <br />Getting unified Colorado legislative support in Congress for Colorado River Storage Project was <br />held up by the Blue River Decree issues, but out of this grew Glen Canyon. <br /> <br />Shoshone: A 1905 water right for 1250 cfs. It is satisfied for three months during spring runoff <br />without any call on the river. Xcel Energy makes calls the other nine months--July 20 to April 15 <br />to produce hydroelectric power for Summit County Mining. Xcel Energy owns the power and <br />makes the call. This is a lot of water for tiny amount of power. Denver and Xcel are negotiating <br />agreement so that Xcel gives up call (2003 agreement) during a very specified circumstance. <br /> <br />New Agreement: Call comes off in early March and back on in late May before recreation <br />season. It only occurs in drought years. This is an issue between Denver Water and a private <br />company (Xcel) over its franchise. <br /> <br />Updating the Green Mountain pumpback issue. <br /> <br />Build a new reservoir at Wolcott to allow Denver to hold back water in Dillon rather <br />than letting it flow to Green Mountain Reservoir.. <br />Capture April, May and June runoff. This is the only time there is extra water in <br />Colorado. <br />This will be an alternative that will be on the table. <br /> <br />Windy Gap. <br /> <br />L\CWCB Imaging\Caleb\Minutes\Colorado\2006\Colorado 1-23-06 Minutes.doc <br /> <br />6 <br />