Photo: The 1775-acre-foot Stevens Reservoir is the largest public water reservoir in Archuleta County.
The Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) and the San Juan Water Conservancy District (SJWCD) will hold a joint meeting tonight at 5pm at the PAWSD offices, 100 Lyn Avenue.
The public is invited to attend.
The meeting will focus on long-term water demand in Archuleta County, and ways to ensure adequate water supplies into the foreseeable future.
The discussion might also include a discussion about a current real estate proposal submitted by Texas-based Zipper Valley Ranch.
Disclosure: I currently serve as a volunteer member of the PAWSD Board of Directors, but this article reflects only my own research and opinions and not necessarily the opinions of the PAWSD Board and staff.
The two water districts are joint owners of the 660-acre Running Iron Ranch, purchased in 2008 as the site for a planned reservoir.
Based on the conclusions of a community work group, the PAWSD board concluded in 2012 that the reservoir was not necessary for long-term water security in Archuleta County, nor was the project financially feasible for a community as small as Pagosa Springs. Nevertheless, PAWSD customers have been paying off a $9.2 million loan, taken out to purchase the property.
The SJWCD board — through numerous board iterations — has continued to seek a new partner to join them in building the reservoir, which they see as a valuable community asset. SJWCD does not make payments towards the loan.
Last year, the PAWSD board announced its intentions to put the Ranch on the market, based on a claim that a 2015 agreement with SJWCD allowed PAWSD to sell the Ranch “at its sole discretion.” The SJWCD board rejected the “sole discretion” claim and argued that PAWSD had agreed, in 2015, to a 20-year “planning period” that does not expire until 2035.
The two water district are currently involved in a lawsuit to clarify the 2015 agreement.
Last year, a potential reservoir partner, Zipper Valley Ranch, submitted a proposal to purchase the Running Iron Ranch and allow SJWCD build a reservoir in the middle of the Ranch, but SJWCD board declined to open discussions with this potential partner, citing concerns about the proposed reservoir size and the possible loss of public water rights.
Tonight’s meeting will be the first time the two districts have gathered to discuss future water demand and possibly also the Zipper Valley offer.
As currently presented, the Zipper Valley offer expires on July 11.