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Quarterly Newsletter December, 1998 Volume 3, Issue 4 ~ ~k LOCAL,;:,~AI.E.R<....PRO.JEC""S.PI.J..,.<>(JN..'.HoL ~ 8 ~;< ^ :i'{ {>W~TER PROjECT ON Hold fOR TIlE PiNE RivER VAllEY ~ 'T~~~ie~.~;,~r,.~!tig<!tipnDistrictYoted at a recent board meeting to put the Vallecito Water Project o;<tlold. ~uet()bureaucratic'redt~p.~~fU,n<Jing restrictions the project has been put on h?lduetil some oftl1.r>~.J?r?blemsca.n be resolved. The Vallecito Water Project was designed to use.waterfrpIIJ. the VallecitoReservpirfordp.tn.estic"r~t~r. Approximately, 2,000 acre feet per year would have been available for residents in eastern La Plata COUf1~..J~cr'~ ..tnentioned that challenges he has faced include resolving fears in the community that the water system Will prom growth and that the cost of the water will not outweigh the benefits for having a secure water system. Even though the money and grants have been awarded, they come with many restrictions. Planning for the project and promotion are not included in the expenditures allowed under the grant regulations. Employee wages and related costs are also not included which has resulted in cutting back employees. Amy Reinhart held one of those positions that has been eliminated. Joe Brown and others with the Pine River Irrigation District are sorry to see her go. Amy expressed disappointment that she wasn't able to see the project through to its completion. She has shown a lot of community sUPl?o.rt by her willingness to support the Children's Water Festival for the past two years, and the festival will miss h.er partICIpatiOn. TIlE CliNTON AdMiNiSTRATioN TiES Up TIlE ANiMA~...LA PlATA PROjECT fOR 1998 After a year and a half of discussions with the Colorado Governor's office, the proponents took the new proposal of the Animas-La Plata Lite to Washington, D.C. The proponents were optimistic, they had secured the support of the Governor's office both in Colorado and New Mexico. Much of the reception in Washington was positive. But to the dismay of the proponents the Administration came out strongly against the project in the hearings. Rather than risk defeat in the House and Congress they went home without asking for a vote. In recent months, the proponents have received a proposal from the Clinton Administration. This proposal has been coined the "Animas-La Plata Ultra- Lite". It provides no irrigation storage or irrigation facilities to be constructed for either Indians or non-Indians. The reservoir offers very limited storage for carryover or recreation. In concept, it would be a like bathtub. Filled and drained on every water year. This was met with opposition from Indians and non-Indians alike. On-going negotiations between proponents and the Administration have not reached a conclusion or decision on the preferred alternative. It remains to be seen when the project will move ahead to construction. INQuiRE AbOUT H-lE NEW BROdwRE: "A VisiON FOR WATER" SOUTHWESTERN WATER CONSERVATioN DiSTRiCT - Rio BlANCO RESTORATiON PROjECT ON Hold DUE To LANd OWNER CONCERNS The Restoration Project for the Lower Rio Blanco River in Pagosa Springs has been put on hold due to land owners' concerns who live along the river. These concerns voiced at a public meeting held last May escalated to the point where San Juan Water Conservancy District voted to delay the project until 1999. On October 5, 1998 a public meeting moderated by Dan Merriman of the Colorado Water Conservation Board addressed concerns of the land owners along the river. After several years of work by the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the San Juan Water Conservancy District and other agencies secured the funding and support for the project. Work on the project was scheduled to begin this past summer. Kathy Kanda, from the Colorado Water Conservation Board collected approximately 50 questions and concerns from people attending the meeting. These concerns will be addressed in a follow-up meeting to be scheduled on January 13, 1999 from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. IN THIS ISSUE OF THE WATER LETTER Local Water Projects On Hold ........................................ Pine River Valley, Animas-La Plata, Rio Blanco ......... 1 Personal Interview With Chuck Lile ............................. 2 Town Meeting For Norwood ................................ 2 & 3 Guest Editorial, Water Education .................................3 Water Information Resources ........................................4 Events........................................................................... 4