Water Will Keep Running in East River Homes

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Water keep running in East River homes Mt, Water and Sanitation District to sell augmentation wafer. Alan Wartes MCBWSD Board President unpopular possibility is for Stewart Johnson. homeowners _ acquire more Anticipating a call for water by 'There are conditions attached, senior rights for their, water by, local ranchers along the East however. River. - a move that would force First, the MCBWSD will purchasing ch s them- from area the Colorado Division of Water initially release five acre feet, and "The last thing we want to do Resources to begin shutting off then increments .of one acre foot is to start drying up agricultural the indoor use of water to as at a time as needed.. Second, the " land in the valley," said _Kathleen many as 500 homes north -of district will release enough water Curry, manage of the U r GRWCD. Jack's . Cabin - including 390 in to augment indoor household use We need to begin looki at Crested Butte South the Mt. only. ng other means of in -basin storage. Crested Butte Water and Sanita- "We are not going to water a .Another option currently tion District voted unanimously lawn, and we're not going to under consideration by the UGR on Friday to sell up,to 10 acre water :a fairway," said Johnson. - WCD'is .to purchase the water feet of Water to the Upper Gunni Third, the board emphasized rights to Long Lake, a privately son River Water Conservancy that this sale of water is a "one owned reservoir above Crested District at a cost of $500 per acre time only" agreement that will Butte. Long Lake reportedly ' foot. not be available in "the .event of up to. 210 acre feet, which The UGRWCD_ must 'still future calls. MCBWSD attorney could help provide- protection formally -agree: 'to the terms R ufus Wilderson "advised • the against future calls. The UGRW- offered by the MCBWSD .and board, "On a long -term basis, you CD has commissioned a study to A lovtg to a dmniist er the sale really can't do =this The question determine the 'exact capacity of of the water to individual-home-•' is can y&x fill (the reservoir) next the lake as a preliminary' step owners a logic- year. If you can then there is ,no toward acquiring the water, but Eical nightmare:, The board will problem. If you can't, then you the meet i potential cost of the deal - as in. on Thum- wind up looking foolish." " high as $1.5 thillio day at n -, could' :7 p.m. in the county Board member Bill Racek said, present.a serious obstacle. commissioners meeting room in "D the courthouse. own valley users should begin "Basically, in the aftermath of .. " `. seeking methods of augmenta- this call'I would encourage peo Though a call had not yet been tion for their future needs." pl who are concerned, about: officially issued as of press time, Just what those "methods of finding water to voice those Assistant Division _Engineer augmentation might be remains concerns to the upper Gunnison Frank Kugel feels the action is unclear at this point. One board;" said Curry. x , LL "inevitable, just a matter of time , Ranchers along the East.River have water rights for roughly 50 Telluride man airlifted out . cfs for fall. irrigation that are . senior to other users in- the valley.- of Black Canyon after fall As the flow rate; iri the river falls it was flowing at 29 cubic feet Emrick notified National Park per second at Cement Creek. on Climbing new ro ute Service rangers about Tuesday - and' irrigation: begins,' Mitchell's fall. - there will not be enough water in, Search and . rescue teams Over 40 workers, including the river to fill - those rights. rescued 27- year -old. Brent National Park Service Ran.gers,' "The:marority of (irrigators).: Mitchell Monday, after he fell the Montrose County Sheriff's Will soon turn water ine a tail " �Ganyon of 'Guinnisobing an the Black Posse _`Quray; M ntain u- .l�es. and there wi b 1 o their while � clim ditches ll - then Na- cue, Montrose Fire Protectivn paced," said Kugel, tional Park. He suffered minor District, a Bureau of Land. That means that owners of injuries, and was airlifted to. Management Helitec Crew, and ' wells with junior rights would be Montrose Memorial. Hospital 'the Montrose par County Sher ff's- Ieftwith iwo options: shut off the` ; about 7 p - .m. Monday. Detment, helped rescue the' wells and cease alI water use, or Mitchell and. Paul' Emrick, climber. find a source of water with which both from .Telluride, began the Crystal Vision is a new to augment.their rights to meet Crystal Vision Route on the ;climbing route and extremely the call Find - the g.such a source mi . south rim of the Black Canyon, difficult. The route xs located.. middleofan historic drought early Monday morning, Sept. -between the Chasm view and is easier said than done_ 2. While leading the first Painted. Wall Overlooks on.the Tliats where' the MCBWSD pitch; Mitchell grabbed an un- south rim of ;the Black. Canyon.. comes in. By agreeing to sell stable' rock and fell about 40 'The sheer walls and narrow water froiti,storage it owns.in the feet. , ness of the canyon, combined Meridian 'Lake Park Reservoir, : Ernrick lowered Mitchell m " With , little =to -no route access.in the ;board made augmentation their belay area, 400` feet'above this area; made the rescue par water available to anyone, affect; . the Gunnison River; before get- titularly difficult and 'time - ed by the.call, which is expected Ling help. Two other climbers consuming. to fastXor. 60 days ;in the canyon that ,day used The climbers did have a free,'. "I v this as trying to protect ropes 'lower Mitchell down a backcountry permit, required the members of the district, but':- scree slope to the bottom of for all inner Canyo also, n_ activity, .to the extent possible, trying . the .canyon. and the proper. equipment. to help out.our neighbors, "•said At approximately 11:15 , am., ■