Water News: Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District Volume 2 Issue 6

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ryingpan- Arkansas Project Tour 2003 June 23 -24 marked an additional tour of the Frying - pan- Arkansas Project. The Southeastern District spon- sors the tour on a yearly ba- sis, with the assistance of Tom Musgrove and Brian Person with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Our goal for each tour is to join a diverse group of people to share views on water, make con- tacts, and realize the vision that began on August 16, 1962 when John F. Ken- nedy visited Pueblo to sign the Frying pan-Arkansas Project Act (Public Law 87- 590). The Project collects ap- proximately 69,000 acre - feet of water each year from the Fryingpan River on the west- ern slope of the Continental Di- vide, which is de- livered through the Arkansas River to the arid eastern slope. The Project in- cludes five major dams and reser- voirs, (Ruedi, Tur- Mt Elk rt The above photo shows the water level at Turquoise Reservoir on June 23, 2003. quoise, e Forebay, Twin Lakes, and Pueblo Reservoir), 17 diver- sion structures and nine tun- nels that draw water to the Arkansas River. The incredible Project is overseen by the U.S. Bu- reau of Reclamation, admin- istered by the Southeastern District, and monitored by the Division Engineers Of- fice. Even though this year's runoff was a big improve- ment from last year, it is es- timated that it can take up to 3 to 5 years before the Project reservoirs are back to capacity. The District would like to thank Ott Boswell, Otis Canard, Tom Musgrove and Brian Person, of the Bureau of Reclamation; Stew Pappenfort of ` Colorado State Parks; Tour participants top row from left to right: Gene Schleiger, NCWCD; Martin Bauer, USBR; Mike Hill & Joe Mauro Bessemer Ditch; Bob Hamilton, SECWCD; Carl McClure, Olney Springs; Lana Gardener, Las Animas High School; Ken Wagner, City of Las An i- mas; Pat Edelmann, USGS; Emamarie Williams, Pueblo Citizen; Stephen Leonhardt, Burns Figa & Will, P.C.; Tom Musgrove & Brian Person, USBR; Scott Clark, Burns Figa & Will, P.C.; Brenda Fillmore, AGUA; Otis Canard, USBR; Michelle Matthews, Tetra Tech RMC; Jean Van Pelt, SECWCD; Frank Wallace, Bent County Commissioner; Kevin Salter, Kansas Dept. Ag/DWR. Bottom row from left to right: Steve Witte, Division Water Resources; Lissa Pinello, Penrose Water District; Phil Reynolds & Jim Broderick, SECWCD; and Chri s Donovan, KOAA. ri John Nahonenuk, Bu- reau of Land Manage- ment; and Mike Conlin of Lake County Open Space for meeting with our group. For more information on the Project tour con- tact the District office at (719) 948 -2400. Written by Margie Miller, Compliance/ Administrative Al L Clerk, SECWCD