The Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) and the San Juan Water Conservancy District (SJWCD) have scheduled a joint meeting for Monday, June 30 at 5pm at the PAWSD offices, 100 Lyn Ave.
The meeting agenda includes one item:
Discussion with San Juan Water Conservancy District Board Members Regarding PAWSD Decision on the Need for Dry Gulch Reservoir
Zoom information was provided for those wishing to attend remotely:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88609697683?pwd=o3jyjU3OleSO0JoANdBcQEcFjX9YJf.1
Meeting ID: 886 0969 7683
Passcode: 223708
The two districts are currently involved in a lawsuit concerning a 660-acre ranch property purchased jointly by the districts in 2008, as the site for a future water storage reservoir. Subsequent to the purchase, in 2011, the PAWSD board of directors received a report from a community working group that concluded the reservoir was not needed to meet future water demands. PAWSD then removed the project from its long-range planning documents, but PAWSD customers continued to repay principal and interest on the $9.2 million loan acquired to purchase the ranch. The ranch is located about 2 miles north of downtown Pagosa Springs.
SJWCD has continued to promote the reservoir project, and has been seeking government and tribal partners to help fund the project, but without success.
Last year, the PAWSD board voted to sell the Running Iron Ranch. A 2016 agreement between SJWCD, PAWSD and the Colorado Water Conservation Board contains conflicting language, that appears to allow PAWSD to sell the property “at its sole discretion” but also requires PAWSD “to make every effort to retain the property.”
That conflicting language is the basis for the lawsuit.
Last year, a company called Zipper Valley Ranch made an offer to purchase the Running Iron Ranch and cooperate with SJWCD to build a reservoir. The SJWCD rejected the offer and declined to enter into negotiations with Zipper Valley.
The upcoming Monday meeting, which is aimed at continuing the discussions about the possibility of a community water reservoir, is open to the public.