Gunnison Water Board Presses for Congressional Legislation

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CHRONICLE & PILOT Crested Butte, CO (Gunnison County) Fri, 3,792 a` ] Little love for squawfish? Gunnison water board presses for Con gressional legislation by Laura Anderson "I feel more endangered every day. '—Gunnison rancher Bill Trampe What would happen if the fed- eral government took all the water it wanted for endangered fish and the Black Canyon? Conceivably, water rights holders downstream could face shortages. They could then place calls on the Upper Gunnison Basin; some of the water in Gunnison County would be turned off. in a worst -case scenario, without proactive movement on the part of the upper basin, ranchlands could dry up for part of the year; home owners could have their water turned off. The Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District contends that one of the purposes of Blue Mesa Reservoir is to protect the upper basin New stream gauges The Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District board of directors voted to install two U.S. Geological Survey stream gauges in the basin, at a cost of $16,300, of which the district will pay half and the fed- eral government half. Before the deci- sion, the board discussed whether to use U.S. Geological Survey gauges or Colorado Division of Water Re- sources gauges. At present, the cost of each is about the same, although the maintenance and operational costs for either program could change in future years. "I think I'd rather take my chances with the feds," board member Dennis Steckel said. "What a choice," board member Le6Spann responded. The gauges will be placed on Crystal Creek and on the Tomichi River, and will let the district deter- calls, is dreaded by the water board. Such a quarterly meeting will be held in Grand Junction August 13 and 14. While the meeting may include the announcement of endangered fish flows, it will focus on releases from the Aspinall Unit into the Gunnison Basin over the next quarter year. Gunnison water district manager Tyler Martineau and board member Ralph Clark will attend. - In other endangered fish news, Martineau explained that if the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decides that "sufficient progress" is not made in recovering the fish in the Upper Colorado Basin, which include the Colorado squawfish, the razorback sucker, the humpback chub and the bonytail chub, it can impose a $10 -per- acre -foot charge on depletion from new water projects to fund the Endan- gered Fish Recovery Program. This , 7harge has yet to be levied. However, now the Fish and Wildlife Service asserts that the depletion charge may be placed on existing water users, as well. Martineau said that many water users are upset and are contending that there was no such intention in the original agreement. - Arapahoe County is looking for reasons whyit has been unsuccess- ful thus farin pursuing its transmoun- tain diversion schemes in the Gunni- son basin. It has asked representatives on the Colorado Water Conservation Board, a state water board, whether the CWCB is responding to the needs of the state as a whole or favoring some parts over others. Martineau, besides being the manager of the Upper GurtnisonRiver Water Conser- vancy District,' is president of the Colorado Water Conservation Board. - The Colorado River District has announced an agreement with the City of Denver to build the $43 million Wolford Mountain Project in the Upper Colorado basin, and divert water to the Front Range, as well as supply several Western Slope coun- ties with a reliable water supply. Groundbreaking is .anticipated by next summer. Gunnison board mem- ber Lee Spann, who also sits on the Colorado River District, said he ex- pects the effect on Arapahoe County's proposal to divert water from Gunni- son County, if any, to be positive from the opposers' point of view, as it will supply additional Front Range water. - As of the end of July, the wator district had spent $129,014.73,54% of its 1992 budget of $237,900. - The various boards and coun- cils in the county will be holding a public meeting on the proposed Rocky Point hydropower project on August 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Richardson Hall in Gunnison. - The Fish and Wildlife Service will host a public meeting on Septem- ber 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Gunnison to explain the Endangered Fish Recov- ery Program. - Daries "Chuck" Lile was ap- pointed director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and Ha- rold "Hal" Simpson was appointed state engineer. "Ben Nighthorse Campbell's office feels the operational approach would raise fewer red flags with George Miller and the environmen- talists who are pushing the Bureau of Reclama- tion to cut federal water subsidies and enforce the Reclamation Reform Act," Tyler Martineau told the board. "Also, it is simpler." from such calls, and that this was mine how much water is flowing promised in the 1950s when the Aspi- there. They are part of the district's nail Unit, which includes Blue Mesa, program to develop its water rights. the Crystal Reservoir and the Morrow Board member Ramon Reed Point Reservoir, was approved. Mon- suggested asking the Colorado River daynight , the waterboard.considered District to pay for half the cost of the the latestofa series ofdraftsoflegisla- gauges. He read one of the Colorado tion that would make this protection a River District's written policies, law, if passed by Congress. The board . which states that the Colorado River hopes that Representative Ben Night - District will split the costs of gauges horse Campbell will attach this legis- with water conservancy districts if lation to his bill making the Black they are leading to water projects. Canyon of the Gunnison a national However, other board members park. felt it a poor idea to ask the Colorado The current language would River District for cost sharing at this allow the upper basin a certain late date, especially since the Colo - amount of storage in Blue Mesa Reser- rado River District paid the entire cost voir. Ifthe downstream rights holders ofa gauge on the East River earlier this placed calls, the basin could use its year. The board agreed to ask the water in storage to meet these calls, River District to pay half the operation rather than turn off faucets. and maintenance costs, which total But Monday night, Water Dis- trict Manager Tyler Martineau told $14,600 a year for the two gauges. Bonytail chub & other business the board that Campbell's office has - The Upper Gunnison expressed interest in a different ap- River Water Conservancy District consid- proach, the "operational approach." ered scheduling work sessions on This language would direct the Bu- topics such as augmentation of the reau of Reclamation to manage Blue basin's water supply. However, the Mesa without harming the upper board questioned whether an atten- basin, avoiding storage issues. "Dan dance requirement which states that McCullough, of Ben Nighthorse board members cannot miss two con - Campbell's office, feels the opera- secutive meetings or three meetings tional approach would raise fewer red total in a yearapplies to worksessions. flags with George Miller (head of the They decided to seek an opinion from House Interior Committee] and the Judge Goldsmith before planning environmentalists who are pushing more work sessions. the Bureau of Reclamation to cut fed- - The Fish and Wildlife Service eral water subsidies and enforce the has agreed to give six months notice at Reclamation Reform Act," Martineau one of the Grand Junction office of the told the board. "Also, it is simpler." Bureau of Reclamation's quarterly The board voted to send a draft meetings before it begins increased of the operational approach legisla- flows to help endangered fish. This tion composed by board member announcement, which could result in Ralph Clark to Ben Nighthorse greater demands on the upperGunni= Campbell's office. son Basin as well as possible water