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-34- Currently, Lake Pueblo has about 151,500 acre-feet in storage and releases have slowed. During the last month, about 7,500 acre-feet were released. Of the water in storage, 45,500 acre-feet are in if-and-when accounts, while 24,665 acre-feet is winter water. The rest, including 28,000 acre-feet that cannot be released, is Fryingpan-Arkansas Project water. The bureau is moving approximately 45,000 acre-feet of water from Turquoise and Twin Lakes to make room for imports from the Fryingpan River next spring. At least 40,000 acre-feet of winter water is expected to be added this year. So, a wet spring similar to this year could bring levels close to or above the maximum storage level, Musgrove said. But that depends on weather conditions, and the timing of spring runoff, which has been coming earlier for the past few years. The winter water now in storage must be released by May 1, 2008, and up to 70,000 acre-feet of new winter water could be stored next year with little danger of spilling. The first water to spill would be Aurora's 10,000 acre-foot excess capacity account, followed by excess- capacity accounts within the basin. The Pueblo Board of Water Works has a 6,000 acre-foot long-term account that would not be subject to spill immediately. Next to spill would be any winter water above 70,000 acre-feet. TROUBLING LOCAL WATER `HOT-SPOTS' IDENTIFIED: Protecting important headwaters is a top priority in Summit County. With political will and the ability to dedicate resources to the job, strides some vexing water issues are being addressed. But there are also signs of trouble in the Blue River Basin, including recurring fish kills, a crackdown on well-water users and a widespread lack of controls over dispersed pollution sources like runoff from construction sites backcountry roads. Several local streams have long been on a list of "impaired waters," indicating that they don't meet standards mandated by the federal Clean Water Act. A number of fish kills in local streams shows water quality is an ongoing concern. Most recently, the trout population was wiped out in a section of the Snake River at keystone. Wildlife officials said a surge of acid mine drainage from Peru Creek was the cause, but a lack of timely data prevented experts from making definitive conclusions. Local fishing guides were also concerned when a number of dead fish were found in Silverthorne's North Pond. The trout may have been mishandled by anglers, but Colorado Division of Wildlife biologists also said the deaths may have resulted from an algae bloom and subsequent oxygen deprivation. Whirling disease continues as an ongoing issue in the Blue River watershed. The parasitic spores decimated local rainbow trout populations when they were accidentally introduced into the state. There is some indication that low-flows resulting from diversions, as well as the buildup of sediment from urban runoff, contribute to the persistence of the worms that serve as intermediate hosts for the disease- causing parasites. Across the watershed, stream depletion is the most widespread problem. Snowmaking diversions during the late fall, when streams are already at their lowest levels, place additional stress on trout. Flood Protection • Water Project Planning and Finance • Stream and Lake Protection Water Supply Protection • Conservation Plarming