WSP12524

• File Number: 8210.320
• Description: Colorado River Basin Organizations-Entities - Southwestern Water Conservation District
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 7/1/1998
• Author: Southwestern Water Conservation District
• Title: Southwestern Water Conservation District-SWCD - Water Information Program-WIP - Water Letter 1998-2004 - Volume III-Issue III through Volume IX-Issue VII - 07-01-98 through 10-01-04
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

000203

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tChe Dream Be c.JI.@4lil.M

.m'iJttsper%l nterprise Center

In 1994, the ou western Water Conservation District
en.te:e~)ill~gi}~i~~~iilt"~a, .,.th~~ofa..coln prehensive
il1.fofn1ationprogriUti.t()~H~.~,tJ:llhunicate water issues to
the public in southwest Colorado. Our firm, Four Corners
Man<!-gement Systems, was selected to assist the district in
cl.eve1oping a program. Working with a steering committee
,. made up of representatives from th~'P<J.!:!i~iPiltillg water
districts, Mary Fenwick (Administrative Assistant),
directors and outside consultants, the Water Information
Program created the press clipping summary, a web p<!-ge,
r~location packets, brochures and many other public
materials. The Water Information Program is generally
recognized as one of the best implemented and most
()()fI1prehensive public information programs on water in
Colorado. As the project man<!-ger, it has been my pleasure
to work with the staff, volunteers, outside contractors and
directors of the Southwestern Water Conservation District
over the past 5+ years. Other opportunities have come my
way and now is the time to turn to the next chapter in the
Water Information Program. I am confident that the
SWCD Board, staff and participating water agencies will
steer the program to the next level of excellence. I will
always have an interest in water issues in Colorado and a
fond spot in my heart for those leaders who have made a
contribution to our communities and made <!-griculture and
water stor<!-ge possible. . .Jasper Welch [e-mail]).
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Did YOII Know?

· The major river basins of Colorado are the Arkansas,
the Colorado, the Missouri and the Rio Grande.

· Less than two percent of the water used on the
Western Slope goes toward domestic purposes.

Quarterly Newsletter January, 2000 Volume 5, Issue 1

..)i<'I4~:......... .,..,.!lii~t.iSan ]1UJJI
R,ver". as,n Re~DVery

Impl.emenUltion Provam

Steve Harris, E E.,Harris ~ter Engineering, Inc.

The San JUan .Riye:J3.~i~ .ltecoy~rxI~plementa.tioIl'
pr()gram(i?rogram) was developed in1991.tol'f<n'i.de<l
administrative structure for the recovery oftbe<C<)I.! ,'. . ....c
pikeminnow (formerly squawnsh) and the razorback sue .er
in the Sanjuan River. The Program has the joint goals of
allowing Colorado and New Mexico to use their Colorado
River Compact apportionment and recover the endangered
fish. The Program created the Coordination Committee,
which oversees the Program and consists of representatives
of various federal and state <!-gencies. The water users of
southwest Colorado are represented ~yrr()fI1J:>jtts.Thete
is also the Biology Committee, which collects technical
data and evaluates the in-river requirements to recover the
endangered fish. This committee is represented by Tom
Wesche, a biologist. Mr. Pitts and Mr. Wesche are paid
halfby Southwestern Water Conservation District and half
by New Mexico water users.

The annual operation budget is approximately $1.2
million. In addition to the annual operation budget,
legislation has been introduced in Congress to authorize
$120 million of capital expenditures in the upper Colorado
River Basin, of which about $20 million is for the San
Juan River.

In January of 1999, the Coordination Committee
approved the "Flow Recommendations" prepared by the
Biology Committee which are based on the hypothesis that
mimicry of the natural hydrograph is necessary for recovery.
The Flow Recommendations provide criteria for releases
of 250 cfs. The Flow Recommendations provide criteria
for releases since 1992 bur are extremely different than
releases prior to 1992. The Flow Recommendations are
controversial for water users and trout fishermen because the
Continued on Pace 3

In nis Issue Of rche lValel- Letlei-

Dream Became Reality ...................................................... 1 Summary of Current Water Issues ..................................... 3
San Juan RIP ............................................................... 1&2 Water Resource Index ....................................................... 3
Welcome Mike Smedley.................................................... 2 How To Contact Us .......................................................... 4
Water Management Regional Up-Dates ............................ 2 Upcoming Events Calendar .............................................. 4

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