|
RGBRT - 8-12-08
<br />Interbasin Compact Committee Basin Roundtables
<br />Rio Grande Inter Basin Roundtable
<br />MINUTES
<br />August 12, 2008 @ 5:00 - 8:00 P.M.
<br />Student Center, Adams State College
<br />Attendees: Mike Berry, Judy Lopez, Mike Willett, John B. Shawcroft, Ron Brink, Sen. Gail Schwartz, Olen
<br />Lund, Cindy Medina, Rio de la Vista, Paul Robertson, Peter Barkmann, Carishma Welch, Sen. Lewis H.
<br />Entz, Fred Bauder, Hew Hallock, Doug Shriver, Ray Wright, Perry Cabot, Michelle Pierce, Allen Brown,
<br />Nicole Langley, Ronald Peterson, Jennifer Gimbell, Linda Bassi, Kelly DiNatale, Matt Bliss, Charles
<br />Spielman, Travis Smith, Steve Vandiver, John McClow, Erin Minks, Mike Gibson, Michael J. Sullivan
<br />Introductions -- Chairman Mike Gibson thanked Senator Gail Schwartz for coming,
<br />introduced Linda Bassi and Jennifer Gimbell from CWCB, and welcomed visiting guests
<br />from the Gunnison Inberbasin Roundtable, Mike Berry, Michelle Pierce, John McClow, and
<br />Olen Lund.
<br />2. Approval of Minutes from June10, 2008 Meeting - Important correction: The proposal by
<br />the Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration project was presented by Steve Russell. Ray
<br />Wright moved the minutes be approved as corrected. Doug Shriver seconded. Unanimous
<br />approval. Mike G had corrected copies for everyone and Nicole apologized for this error.
<br />3. "Water Issues in the Gunnison Basin" - Gunnison Roundtable Member John McClow,
<br />General Counsel for the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District - This slide
<br />presentation was created to introduce other Interbasin Roundtables to the basic
<br />characteristics of the Gunnison Basin and to communicate some of the issues and
<br />challenges they face.
<br />Highlights: Water rights issues in Aspinal, Gunnison Tunnel, Black Canyon of the
<br />Gunnison, Uncompahgre. Critical habitats. Beneficial uses: Agriculture in the upper and
<br />lower basins. The crops in the North Fork Region - pear, apple, peach, grape, beans, and
<br />squash - $16.5 million crop value. Livestock. Municipal and domestic water use issues:
<br />evaluating conservation uses by small municipalities. For too many, irrigation water is being
<br />converted to municipal use. Recreation presents a challenge. Curecanti gets one million
<br />visitor days per year in a community of only 5,600 people with 70% coming from outside the
<br />Basin. Stream fishing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting. Two coal mines in Gunnison and Delta
<br />Counties are a very significant part of the economy. Direct water use = 1,200 acre feet per
<br />year. Have augmentation plans. Hydropower plants in Aspinall, Morrow Point, Crystal.
<br />Discussion of water right quantification challenges in Black Canyon National Park. People
<br />developing water without being aware. Due to issues of endangered fish and other issues,
<br />the potential for hydropower has suffered. Reoperation of the Aspinall Unit Reservoirs to
<br />prevent jeopardy to critical habitat on Gunnison and Colorado rivers with base flows to
<br />benefit endangered fish. Significant demand to meet F&WL requirements.
<br />Page 1 of 4
|