Which line into the future do we want to follow? The blue line, or the red line?
The community’s actual water demand data… which is the blue line?
Or the imaginary fears about water shortages… which is the red line?
Because we have a choice.
Facts, or fears.
The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and the Colorado Division of Water Resources recently announced $7 million in funding for Colorado water users within the Upper Colorado River Basin in need of a device to measure their water diversions. The funding comes at a time when the Colorado Division of Water Resources is working to implement new water measurement rules for users of Colorado River water, including Divisions 4, 5, 6, and 7.
The Division of Water Resources is currently writing rules for Division 7, which sends water from the San Juan River to the federal reservoir called Lake Powell.
Pagosa Springs is in Division 7.
“Accurate measurement of diversions is critical to protect Colorado’s entitlement to water, including under the Colorado River Compact, and to ensure we are maximizing the beneficial use of the public’s water resource,” said Jason Ullman, the state water engineer.
If you read between the lines, CWCB is making a rather important statement by issuing this funding:
Colorado water users often do not know how much water they are diverting.
150 years after the adoption of the ‘prior appropriation doctrine’ in Colorado, granting privileged access to senior water rights holders during times when water flows are limited… we still have major water users who cannot accurately measure their water use.
At least one major water user in Pagosa Springs has been accurately measuring its water use for the past several decades: Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD). The chart at the top of the page shows, with a blue line, the accurate PAWSD measurements of water sold, with a blue line, from 2001 through 2021.
Does that blue line mean anything to a small group of volunteer board members serving on the San Juan Water Conservancy District (SJWCD) board? I ask that question because in 2007, a previous SJWCD board embraced the red line in the chart above as an accurate prediction of our community’s future water demand — and based on that prediction, has been telling the community since 2007 that we’re headed for a dire water shortage.
But the fact is, thanks to ongoing PAWSD improvements, we have better water security today than we had in 2007. On top of those improvements, Pagosa Springs families and businesses have actively embraced a water conservation philosophy.
Our local water situation has not been getting worse, as SJWCD has been claiming it would. Rather, it has significantly improved.
The PAWSD board of directors will hold their next monthly meeting on Thursday, December 12, and I assume we will be discussing ‘next steps’ regarding the 667-acre Running Iron Ranch, purchased in 2008 by PAWSD and SJWCD for $10.2 million. That 2008 purchase was made without voter approval.
SJWCD obtained a $1 million grant, by promising to start building the reservoir by 2025. They have thus far failed to meet that deadline.
The rest of the $10.2 million was borrowed by PAWSD from the Colorado Water Conservation Board, with a promise that PAWSD customer rates would be increased as needed to cover debt payments.
The first engineered estimate of the reservoir cost was $357 million — and the plan was to have PAWSD customers foot that bill as well.
Did I mention, this was done without voter approval?
Because PAWSD has been making reduced payments on the loan, and because interest has been accruing, PAWSD customers currently owe more than $10 million, in spite of paying on the loan for more than a decade.
Back in September, PAWSD received an offer to purchase the Running iron Ranch. PAWSD did not accept the offer, but informed SJWCD that an offer had been received. The offer would have covered most of the remaining loan payments, and allowed PAWSD to reduce the monthly bills for their customers. PAWSD then asked SJWCD to confirm that PAWSD has the right to sell the Ranch “at its sole discretion” according to a 2015 agreement between PAWSD, SJWCD, and CWCB.
SJWCD responded that they would fight the sale, in court if necessary.
A couple of weeks later, PAWSD received another offer, that would again cover PAWSD customer debt on the CWCB loan — but would also allow a reservoir to be constructed on the Ranch. In fact, the potential purchaser offered to help build the community reservoir.
SJWCD had since voted twice, unanimously, to reject the offer to help them build the reservoir.
Since 2008, I have been arguing in opposition to a reservoir in Dry Gulch. I’ve written dozens of lengthy Daily Post articles explaining why PAWSD does not need another reservoir. (PAWSD already has seven reservoirs.)
But now, I am presented with a private business owner who has volunteered to help build a reservoir for our community, and also get PAWSD customers free of debt on the Running Iron Ranch.
At our PAWSD board meeting next week, I am hoping our board will vote to begin negotiating with the person making this amazingly generous offer — without SJWCD’s participation. I would love to see our customers free of Ranch debt by this coming summer, and the possibility that the community will get an eighth reservoir, to help with water security.
This will likely involve a trip to court, to confirm PAWSD’s right to sell the Ranch “at its sole discretion”. Legal efforts are not cheap.
But I expect it to be worth every penny to our PAWSD customers — who comprise maybe 80% of the people living in Archuleta County.
It’s been a long story. But I think I see a light at the end of the tunnel.