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<br />Colorado CentrallVlagazine
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<br />De:embe: 2003
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<br />" A f?'ER r..1AY BE THE llFEBWOD of the San Lui5
<br />\' \ Valley. but unity is its hean. -
<br />Toe Statewide Ware: Supply Initiative invited a
<br />score of water users to a roundtable discussion on Dc.
<br />rohet 16 to decide what's imponam when it comes to
<br />water in the Rio Grande Basin. The panel represented
<br />environmemal groups, recreational users, ranchers.
<br />farmers, and government, with public input sought in
<br />an evening session.
<br />That discussion is crucial nov.., v.ith the valley in the
<br />worst drought on record. According [0 the'Oi\ision of
<br />Water Resources, 2002 was the driest vear since 1890.
<br />LaSt year saw the lowest annual flow ot the Rio Grande,
<br />at 24 percent of normal.
<br />"Since 1996, we've had five dry years, 1996, 1998,
<br />2000,2002, and 2003," said Steve Vandiver, the Di\i-
<br />sian UI engineer, "and the long-range forecast doesn't
<br />indicate above-normal flows for 2004,"
<br />The Rio Grande Basin drains about 8,000 square
<br />miles. The San Luis Valle)', comprising six counties, but
<br />less than 50,000 people, uses 85 percent of its water iar
<br />agriculture, with 600,000 acres irrigated. The valley's
<br />unconfined aquifer has a 1 millian acre-fomwater defi.
<br />cit since 1976, Vandiver said.
<br />The SWSI project, therefore, has been welcomed in
<br />the valley. The group was diverse, but the commonality
<br />ofli"ing and working in a valle)' that's a deseIl kept the
<br />talk from becoming a debate.
<br />"When the valley wants to get something done, we
<br />get together and gel it done,~ said Ray\Vright of the Rio
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<br />What is SWSI?
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<br />The State....ide Warer Supply Initiative is a se-
<br />ries of forums run bv the Colorado Water Conser-
<br />vation Board. The avcs gathers people in each
<br />basin in the State - ranchers, emironmental ac-
<br />ti\ists, wildlife biologists, farmers, politicians,
<br />and just plain folks - (0 discuss currem wa-
<br />ter-supply problems and possible solutions.
<br />SWSI is not meant to replace local water
<br />boards or planning groups, but to encourage dis-
<br />cussion and collaboration among differem
<br />groups and differem pans of the state.
<br />The first meeting of the Rio Grande Basin in
<br />September was an open forum, designed '\0 tell
<br />the SWSI project managers what the local issues
<br />are, and how the}~ve been dealt with so far. The
<br />second meeting, last month, was a roundtable
<br />discussion among influential warer users. Partici-
<br />pants included .AJ.Jen Davey of the Rio Grande
<br />Water Consen'arion District; Cathy Mc..'\leil, a
<br />ranc.1-jer representing L'le SLV .A.ssociation of Con-
<br />sen.ation Districts; Kate Booth-Doyle, of the Rio
<br />Grande/Rio Bravo Coalition; Alan !\liller,
<br />.AJamasa River Restoration Comminee; Don
<br />Koskelin, city of _AJamosa; and other ranchers,
<br />politicians, and emironmemalists. -M.D.
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<br />,.. - ........,. ..., ~
<br />StatewiikWater Supp1yJnititztive~
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<br />- S.W-S"t' -::
<br />- .-,', fu'-
<br />.: ~ _ ~t ~~~_.'
<br />Looks ~t future of"Wiltt;-i.
<br />, ........
<br />in the San Luis Valley
<br />".1. ;1
<br />BY MARCIA DARNELL
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<br />Grande Water Conservation Board. "Vo/hen we fail, it's
<br />when we squabble with each other."
<br />The discussion, aimed at defining objectives far the
<br />project, was congenial and inclusive. The group con-
<br />ceded that the valley ~'t increase the amount of wa-
<br />ter nature sends, so it has to better manage what it gets.
<br />They also agreed thai the water needs of agriculture,
<br />recreation, wildlife, residents, and tourism are inexni.
<br />cably linked.
<br />Kate Booth-Doyle, representing the Rio GrandelR.io
<br />Bravo Coalition, noted that in nature, water supply has
<br />always been unreliable.
<br />UWhen you haw drought years and the river runs
<br />dry and the fish die," she said, "how can the river raft-
<br />ing guide and the fly fishing guide keep their busi-
<br />nesses open?
<br />"In. this valley," she continued, "agriculture and the
<br />environment have worked hand in hand. We don't all
<br />get what we want, but we've been able to gel what we _
<br />need."
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<br />I~ ICK BROVVN, SWSI project manager, said he was
<br />.'-.impressed with the cohesiveness of the pane1.
<br />"This roundtable has worked on a lot of issues to.
<br />gether, and the)' seem to be very sensitive to each
<br />other's concems,~ he said. "I've seen sensithit)' in the
<br />meetings in other basins, but not on this level. It's mak.
<br />ing this process move along quickly."
<br />Several panelists agreed that demand has exceeded
<br />supply, and that lowering expectations is just as impor.
<br />tant as increasing storage.
<br />"\Ve can utilize our swrage"and we have a great sys~
<br />tem,- said Wright, "'but we're all kind of myopic right
<br />now. \Ve're like Denver was last spring when they had
<br />reservoirs at 20 percent of normal, but 'with no manda.
<br />tory ,....atering restrictions."
<br />\ \ 'hemer Referendum A passes, and how that affects
<br />storage, flows, and other water issues in the valley, reo
<br />mains a concern. For a vaIley L'lac has long fought tolprotect its water, it means more discussion in the fu-
<br />ture.
<br />For more information on SWSI, check our
<br />cwcb.state.co.us.
<br />A!arcia D:lme1l1ivcs In Alamosa, and is now the official Dem'er
<br />Post stringer for rhe San wi.<; Valley.
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