|
<br />
<br />Oufj194
<br />
<br />Quarterly Newsletter July, 1998 Volume 3, Issue 3
<br />
<br />
<br />LOWER BLANCJ.................,...... D,RM.....>. .R...PvBI.IC~m>
<br />.. '. ... ,,';".'.'.',,:;;;':<;/J,:,+.'c,_.':., ....' _.' '.' - - _ _ _ '._ _ _ _ '.' __ __
<br />
<br />Local d state officials & water district
<br />representatives attended a public meeting on the Lower Rio Blanco
<br />River restoration pro~ess held on TuesdayJune 2, 1998 at the Archuleta
<br />County Courthouse. The lower Rio Blanco River restoration project
<br />is located south of Pagosa Springs, CO near where Colorado highway
<br />84 crosses over the Rio Blanco River in southern Archuleta County,
<br />CO. Fred Schmidt, board president of the San Juan Water Conservancy
<br />District presided over the public information meeting. Other
<br />presentations were made by Dan Merriman; chie.fof!:he water rights
<br />division for the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Mary Fenwick,
<br />representing the Water Information Program presented the history of
<br />the water district and the public information program for the Rio Blanco
<br />restoration project. Dave Rosgen, a hydrologist with Wildlands
<br />Hydrology, whose study provides the model for the proposed river
<br />channel work, was also on hand to present information on the Lower
<br />Blanco River restoration project. The river restoration project will cost
<br />approximately $160,000 and is scheduled to begin in mid July 1998.
<br />Funding for the river restoration project is coming from
<br />Federal, state of Colorado and local agency sources. A major grant of
<br />$%,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plus a
<br />combined $64,000 matching local and state grants from the Colorado
<br />Water Conservation Board (CWCB), Southwestern Water Conservation
<br />District (SWCD), Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDW), San Juan
<br />Water Conservancy District (SJWCD), and private donations will
<br />provide the financial resources for the lower Rio Blanco River restoration
<br />prpject. According to hydrologist Dave Rosgen, approximately
<br />1 /1/2 miles of stream bed will be renovated during the initial phase
<br />of the project.
<br />
<br />The present condition of the stream bed is due to diminished
<br />water flows, due to the upstream diversions from the San Juan-Chama
<br />Diversion project. In 1971, this upper Colorado River Basin proj
<br />began water diversions f~~ll.l. ..~~..s.anJ~ Riv
<br />G~an~e~Yl:~' basiP,"Wa.teIiij..'1tlI~n;iro~
<br />rivers. in Colorado via tunnels under. the
<br />transferred to the Chama River in New MexicO~
<br />from the San Juan-Chama diversion flows thr()~
<br />river system into the Rio Grande basin for use by water users irt the
<br />Rio Grande river corridor.
<br />According to hydrologist Dave Rosgen, the diminished
<br />stream flows due to the diversions upstream, only leave a minimum
<br />by-pass stream flow for the Rio Blanco. Over the past 25 years the
<br />lower flows on the Blanco are running slower and warmer than the
<br />previous conditions. Stream banks and natural water course. features
<br />are deteriorating. The river restoration project
<br />banks, replant vegetation,rnodif}Fthe:wa
<br />river bed to better handle the lower flows. A monitoring program,
<br />overseen by junior high school students that are supervised by Cindy
<br />Nobles, a Pagosa Springs Junior High School environmental studies
<br />instructor. During the river restoration project, heavy equipment
<br />will be working in the river bed to rebuild and restore the stream
<br />course. Existing water diversion structures will be protected during
<br />the river restoration project, so as to assure water users of their wate.r
<br />requirement from the river.
<br />For more information on the lower Blanco River restoration
<br />project, please contact Dan Merriman, CWCD (303) 866-3441 Carrie
<br />Campbell, SJWCD (970) 731-2691 or Mary Fenwick, SWCD
<br />(970)247-1302.
<br />
<br />
<br />LAST YEAR WAS SUCCESSFUL FOR DoLORES PROJEa
<br />Crop Values Estimated at Over $9M for 7997
<br />
<br />According to general manager John Porter, the 1997 irrigation season on Dolores Project lands was very successful. A total of23,858 acres were
<br />planted on full service Dolores Project irrigated lands in 1997, with a total crop value of $9,118,993 or $382 per acre. The largest crop was
<br />alfalfa hay, accounting for approximately 80% of the crops planted with hay having $7 million in crop value. Small grain crops accounted for
<br />approximately 10% of the 1997 irrigated crops, with beans accounting for 6% and pasturelands accounting for 4%. While alfalfa hay prices
<br />can fluctuate from $65 per ton to $90 per ton, 1997 saw prices on the higher side of the range. The figures do not include crop production
<br />from dryland farms, farmers on the Montezuma Valley Irrigation system or the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal farm & ranch enterprises. Since the
<br />Dolores Water Project began delivering project water in 1987, the largest crop has been alfalfa hay, with an historical average of around 70%
<br />of the acreage under irrigation in hay crops. Project water is delivered in canals, then is pressurized for sprinkler irrigation for farmers in
<br />northwestern Montezuma and southwestern Dolores County. For more information on the Dolores Project, call John Porter at the Dolores
<br />Water Conservancy District at (970)565-7562.
<br />
<br />
|