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<br />A concern was brought up about the hydro-electric power supplied by water and reservoir <br />shortages. <br /> <br />It was pointed out that we have received most ofthe runoff in most of our major streams already. <br />We already have some "senior calls" for water which is very unusual. John Martin reservoir is <br />very low and this will impact some of our compact issues on the Arkansas. 85% of our water use <br />in Colorado is for agricultural use. This is why a drought hits the agriculture connunity very <br />hard. There are record lows in most of the basins. <br /> <br />The augmentation supply is not available to be able to augment the well pumping in the <br />Arkansas Basin as well as some other basins and of course this is then another impact. Division <br />2 has responded to the severity low water in large irrigation ditches by conducting workshops to <br />cover replacing augmentation water supplies. Rio Grande has no water and will be getting no <br />water; therefore, our compact requirements are also very low when you have low water. <br /> <br />The Grand Mesa reservoir partly supplies water to Grand Junction and is at only 20 to 25% of <br />normal storage for this time of year. This year reservoir storage will be heavily used throughout <br />the state. Some reservoirs have a fair amount of storage while the Grand Mesa is very low. <br />Colorado River Basin has the most of water of any of the basins, but it still is very low. <br />Walden Reservoir is calling for "fill" water at this time, which is very unusual for this time of the <br />year. The last time it was this bad was in 1977. This year the snowpack may be running a little <br />ahead of 1977; however it's coming off earlier. <br /> <br />Division 7 in the southwest part of the state is the hardest it. There is no water there. Mancos <br />River is so low that only stock water is available for use. Most of the streams peaked out in early <br />April. Ground water conditions: Lack of precipitation will result in increased pumping and <br />lowering the water levels. Fanners will get a double hitndry weather and increased cost to <br />provide water from wells (ie. energy and drilling costs). <br /> <br />The Denver Basin is the only bright spot and it's not very bright. Water is not recharged and <br />surfaced. Drought doesn't generally affect the Denver basin; the effect it does have is increased <br />pumping and lowering the water table and increased pumping cost. When the water is gone, we <br />will have an impact because it won't be recharged for future years. When the ground water is <br />pumped the acquifer is pulled down around the streams and has lead to issues in the Arkansas <br />Basin for augmentation. The Rio Grande, as well as others, will of course have more pumping <br />costs as well. <br /> <br />Bureau of Reclamation Reservoir Storage <br /> <br />This is the third year oflow flows on Lake Powell. Current forecast is only 33% of average for <br />Lake Powell, due to the July 4 runoff. Since 1983 reservoirs have been, in general, above <br />average. <br /> <br />National Park Service has filed for reserved water rights at Blue Mesa and it seems at this time <br />that the impact on the water rights for Blue Mesa would be huge on the ability to use and storage. <br />