WSP00170 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I I , built somewhere in the Fraser River Basin in Grand County. This is a reasonable assumption since the Windy Gap diversion is in Grand County. Also, Denver's diversions from the Fraser River Valley have seriously impacted that region for many years justi- fying some form of relief when practical. A precedent-setting agreement. the Memorandum of Understanding, signed in December 1986 by the River District, Denver Water Board and Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District's Municipal Subdistrict is indeed an historic landmark event. Following months of good faith negotiations, with give and take by all parties, a Memorandum of Agreement was reached. The three longtime adversaries in water matters signed off on a cooperative agreement providing a framework to plan and beneficially develop Colorado's limited water resources. This agreement serves to outline the future use and develop- ment of water in the best interest of both the East and West Slopes. Key elements are: settle costly litigation that has plagued Denver, the River District, Northern and its Subdistrict for years jeopardizing valuable water rights owned by all parties; a lease agreement with Denver for water out of a project to be built by the River District; construct additional reservoirs on the West Slope that can benefit both sides of the Continental Divide; reduce the impacts of transmountain diversions on Summit, Grand and Eagle Counties; cooperatively address the issues sur- rounding interstate compact commitments; protect normal in- basin agricultural and municipal water uses. and; Denver will file an application to pump water from Green Mountain Reservoir back to Dillon Reservoir for use in the Denver area.. . hefore they can utilize the Green Mountain Pumpback. they must. at their cost. build a reservoir or reservoirs on the West Slope sized to provide a substantial yield over and above what they pump from Green Mountain. The River District board and staff with the help of special con- sultants succeeded in resolving sensitive issues between perpetual antagonists. Signing of this document marked the beginning of a new era in East-West relations. Efforts at improving relations and settling age-old disputes between East and West happened also in the early 1980's, creating an atmosphere of cooperation later for the 1986 agree- 12 L~ ment. The River District joined others in financial support of a group of consultants to serve as mediators in bringing together the different water interests of the state. Denver. the Metropolitan area water providers, environmental community, f-:. Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, and the I-A Metropolitan Denver Homebuilders Association also par- ,,~'. ticipated. r ; t As negotiation sessions were being considered. the River District scheduled a meeting of Western Colorado organizations and individuals familiar with water issues. At the meeting, those representing many diverse water interests, essentially thrust the leadership role in future negotiations upon the River District. In 1981, the Governor appointed some thirty persons to what was known as the Metropolitan Water Roundtable. Included were mayors. county commissioners, builders. lawyers, water organizations and environmentalists. Their misson was to deter- mine the most desirable approach in meeting the future water needs of Metropolitan Denver. Western Colorado members, of which there were only six out of about thirty, requested the Governor to appoint a seventeen member West Slope Water Ad- visory Council. The Council would provide West Slope input to the Roundtable. and make up, in part. for the inbalance in Western Colorado representation. River District directors served on both the Roundtable and the Advisory Council with staff providing technical support. The Ad- visory Council insisted, in strong terms, on being heard regar- ding a number of Western Colorado interests and concerns: pr<>- tecting a future water suppy for the West Slope, diminished water quality due to excessive transmountain diversions and im- pacts on Grand, Summit and Eagle Counties by increased diver- sions to the Front Range. The Advisory Council served well and was effective in tbe overall process.