U.S. Water News Online
ARVADA, Colo. -- Wally Welton shielded his eyes from the hot sun and stared across the blue-green waters of the new 9,800 acre-foot reservoir that bears his name.
``I call it the stealth reservoir. There was a deliberate effort not to advertise it,'' the president of the Consolidated Mutual Water Co. said.
Built largely under the public's radar, the $20 million reservoir was completed on time and on budget in 2001, with enough water to supply 21,000 taps near a former nuclear weapons plant in Jefferson County.
Dozens of similar projects could be completed if voters approve a $2 billion bond referendum in November aimed at easing the effects of the multiyear drought.
The plan is drawing strong opposition from Western Colorado residents who fear it could be a conduit to send their water to the thirsty Front Range. Others are wary because it does not specify projects that would be financed by the referendum.
``Who does this bonding referendum help? No one is able to answer that question,'' said Reeves Brown, president of Club 20, a group that represents Western Slope business interests. ``That's why we believe there is a hidden agenda.''
Sen. Jim Dyer, R-Littleton, who sponsored the referendum in the Legislature, refused to identify any projects that could be built with the money. He wants projects to come from user groups, both public and private, which will have to pay for it through revenue bonds.
The measure was one of several bills enacted this year to tackle problems stemming from the drought, one of the worst in recorded history.
Proposed projects must be reviewed by the Colorado Water Conservation Board and approved by the governor.
Gov. Bill Owens said the money could be used to repair existing facilities, improve their efficiency, and to build new storage.
``Reservoirs leak and facilities age. That means that we are failing to store water that we have the capacity to store, and storage is the best way to protect us against drought, since 80 percent of Colorado's water comes from snowmelt,'' Owens said when he signed the bill to put it on the ballot.
Potential projects include the Big Straw, a plan to pump water back from the Colorado River at the Utah border and reuse it. Owens said that is where the state could reap the biggest benefit because the state is entitled to 400,000 acre feet a year it cannot store.
A private consulting firm has been awarded a $2.7 million contract to conduct 81 meetings around the state to come up with a list of potential projects by November 2004. The meetings began in August.
Owens, who is backing the referendum, has told Western Slope politicians that there are hundreds of other potential projects that could help every region. He insisted no decisions have been made on which projects would be financed if the referendum were approved.
A Club 20 committee recently voted overwhelmingly to recommend that voters defeat the referendum. The full group takes up the recommendation in September.
Brown said his region is not opposed to water storage projects as long as they help farmers and protect the western region's growth potential.
Brown said the problem with the proposal is not the financing details, but that the water is too expensive. He said it could end up costing users $500 an acre foot or more, making it prohibitive for Western Slope farmers accustomed to paying $20.
Trout Unlimited spokesman Dave Nickum said environmentalists recognize new water projects are needed and will support those that address their concerns.
He said environmentalists opposed big projects like Dominguez Reservoir near Grand Junction because they will harm wildlife. ``We aren't targeting all projects. Some projects do make sense,'' Nickum said.
Environmentalists suspect the state is avoiding mention of specific projects to forestall criticism, Colorado Environmental Coalition spokeswoman Monica Piergrossi said. She said the statewide study should consider all viewpoints.
Brown said late is better than never for the state to draw up a list of projects that could be built over the next 30 years.
``It would have been better if they had done this 40 years ago,'' Brown said.
Welton said small projects like the reservoir his company built are the best answer for Colorado's water crisis. He has identified two projects of about 5,000 acre feet each he could build if he could get the water supply and permits to build it.
Welton said he would apply for the money if bond companies can offer him a better rate than he could get from the state. Under the referendum, the state is not backing the bonds, it just allows public-private partnerships previously barred by state law.
Welton agreed with the state's hands-off, market-driven policy to let private owners, municipalities and the bond markets decide which water projects to build.
``I don't think things go as well when the government gets involved,'' he said.
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