Upper Colorado Region News Releases

Reclamation Announces Beginning 2013 Irrigation Season for Rio Grande Project

With the beginning of the Rio Grande Project irrigation season, the Bureau of Reclamation will initiate releases from Elephant Butte and Caballo reservoirs so water will soon be flowing down the Rio Grande in southern New Mexico and west Texas.

Releases will begin out of Elephant Butte Reservoir at 8 a.m. on Thursday May 23, 2013. The public should be aware that even though the river bed is dry between Elephant Butte and Caballo reservoirs, a large amount of water will begin flowing that day. The release will begin at 650 cubic feet per second (cfs) and will increase to 1,400 cfs the following day.

Releases will begin out of Caballo Reservoir on Saturday June 1, 2013 formally marking the beginning of the irrigation season for the Rio Grande Project. The release from Caballo will start at 500 cfs and increase to about 2000 cfs the following day. These flows will be continuous until about mid-July.

Rio Grande Project water is used to irrigate lands in the Elephant Butte Irrigation District in southern New Mexico, the El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1 in west Texas and Mexico. Project water is also used for municipal and industrial purposes by the city of El Paso, Texas.

The public should be aware that water levels within the Rio Grande channel will rise and fluctuate during the irrigation season, particularly with the initial release from each dam.

Water levels at Elephant Butte Reservoir are expected to reach historic lows this summer based on the runoff forecast. The current level is 11 percent of total storage capacity. The present allotments for irrigation on the Rio Grande Project are five percent of a full supply.

Public Use of Reclamation Land in Ridges Basin Remains Closed to the Public

DURANGO, Colo. - As a reminder, Since June 30, 2003, the Bureau of Reclamation has prohibited public access and activities on Reclamation land in Ridges Basin and Basin Creek below Ridges Basin Dam in La Plata County, Colo., and around Lake Nighthorse.

Public access and activities on these lands have been closed to public entry and use until a recreation management entity is identified and appropriate recreation facilities are built to provide for public safety and protect resources from damage due to uncontrolled use.

The reservoir area is posted with no trespassing signs and trespassers are subject to citation by the La Plata Sheriff's Department. Please report trespass to the La Plata County Sherriff’s Office at 970-385-2900.

Carl Hayden Visitor Center Exhibits to Undergo Extensive Remodel

Salt Lake City, Utah – The Carl Hayden Visitor Center in Page, Ariz. is about to undergo a major face lift with all new displays now being designed for visitors to the Bureau of Reclamation's Glen Canyon Dam and the National Park Service's Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Reclamation has issued a contract valued at approximately $1.5 million to Pacific Studio, Inc. of Seattle, Wash. to design, fabricate and install all new exhibits in the center.

Reclamation and the National Park Service are partners in the operation of the visitor center located adjacent to the dam. The primary theme for the exhibits is: "The Colorado River and its surrounding landscape embody survival, adaptation, and change, while Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell bring into sharp focus the dilemma of water and power management and its effects on the people and environment of the desert southwest." Pacific Studio has already begun the data gathering work that will eventually shape the final designs. The finished exhibits will be installed over the winter of 2014 – 2015 with an opening anticipated on May 31, 2015.

Reclamation's Upper Colorado Regional Director Larry Walkoviak pointed out that the current exhibits were installed twenty-five years ago and are in need of updating. "Significant changes in the operation of Glen Canyon Dam and the overall management of the Colorado River system have occurred since the old exhibits were installed in 1988. The new center will interpret not only the history and construction of the dam, but will reflect upon the broad range of dam and river management challenges." Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Superintendent Todd Brindle said, "The exhibits will examine the totality of management challenges, past and current human interactions with the land and river, and resource and recreation management into the future."

Pacific Studio will design, fabricate and install the exhibits and other interpretive media, remove existing exhibits, and prepare the area for the new displays. Reclamation will manage the contract which is being undertaken through a memorandum of understanding between National Park Service and Reclamation with each agency providing 50 percent of the funds involved. "The exhibits will benefit all visitors to the parks and the dam," said Brindle, "and are being funded with revenue from entrance fees and annual passes." Walkoviak said that "the contributions from Reclamation are funded through the sale of hydro-power from Glen Canyon Dam."

Boat Ramp Operations at Vallecito Reservoir to Prevent Spread of Mussels

DURANGO, Colo. - The Bureau of Reclamation, in cooperation with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Pine River Irrigation District, and U.S. Forest Service, announces Vallecito Reservoir boat ramp operations to prevent the spread of invasive mussels.

Vallecito Reservoir is one of 20 water bodies across Colorado ranked as "very high" for risk of a zebra or quagga mussel invasion based on its proximity to infected waters. In 2010, a boat infested with quagga mussels from out of state was intercepted and decontaminated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife at Vallecito. As a result of the potential risk to the reservoir, only the Sawmill Point boat ramp is open for public use. All other launch sites on Reclamation land are closed and violators will be cited.

The Sawmill Point boat ramp will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. beginning May 3 until September. Rocky Mountain Recreation Company will operate a watercraft inspection and decontamination station through a contract with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Inspection of all trailered watercraft is mandatory prior to launching. The boat ramp will be closed overnight during the summer, and seasonally from fall to spring.

Quagga and zebra mussels are among the most devastating aquatic species to invade North American freshwater systems. The discovery of mussels in Lake Mead (Arizona), Lake Powell (Arizona and Utah), Pueblo Reservoir (Colorado), and other water bodies in California, Nevada, Texas and Utah, has placed Vallecito and other Colorado waters in the middle of the invasion path.

For questions regarding boat ramp operations at Vallecito, contact Hal Pierce at Pine River Irrigation District, phone 970-884-2558; Jim White at Colorado Parks and Wildlife, phone 970-375-6712; or Mark Chiarito at Bureau of Reclamation, phone 970-385-6577. To report illegal launching of trailered watercraft, please contact the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office at 970-385-2900.

Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers Plan for Continued Drought

The Bureau of Reclamation's Albuquerque Area Office and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today released their Annual Operating Plan for the Middle Rio Grande.

As we head into our third consecutive year of severe drought, Reclamation is focused on working closely with all partners to operate to meet both water user needs and flow targets under the 2003 Biological Opinion for the Rio Grande silvery minnow.

In a dry year, the biological opinion requires Reclamation to keep the river wet to Isleta Diversion Dam. Below that diversion dam and in the San Acacia reach, the river can be dried in a controlled manner after June 15. The current model projection for demand to meet flow requirements is somewhere between 65,000 and 80,000 acre-feet, however that forecast assumes minimal monsoons.

The April forecast data released by the Natural Resources Conservation Service shows snowpack volumes throughout northern New Mexico are approximately 45 percent of average. The inflow at El Vado Reservoir is expected to be about 80,000 acre-feet of water or about 36 percent of average. The inflow at Heron Reservoir is expected to be about 45,000 acre-feet or about 55 percent of average.

Reclamation is currently negotiating additional water leases and expects to have approximately 40,000 to 50,000 acre-feet of water to supplement river flows. Reclamation is working closely with the Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission and other stakeholders to optimize the use of supplemental water. Reclamation will again be working with the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority to move water from El Vado Reservoir to Abiquiu on the weekends to allow for rafting flows on the Rio Chama.

To the Moon and Back - Sort of, for Reclamation Drivers

Farmington, N.M. – Picture driving to the moon and back – twice – without an accident. Those safe trips totaling a million miles would equal the accomplishments of the Bureau of Reclamation's employees at the Four Corners Construction Office in Farmington, N.M. The mileage total reflects all miles driven, including to very remote locations, often in extreme weather conditions, to work on projects such as the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.

The last preventable accident was September 12, 2011. Following that, Reclamation employees took the office's safety program to a whole new level. The program, in effect for 15 years, rewards employees for achieving accident-free safety records. To qualify, in addition to accident-free driving, employees must complete a number of mandatory training classes on a wide range of topics appropriate to both construction and office work.

Being that the FCCO crew is largely made up of engineers and other math-savvy people, they couldn't resist further calculating other million-mile equivalents. For example, they drove the same as 40 times around the earth; 204 round trips end-to-end on old Route 66; 10,000 round trips from Farmington to Durango; 4,065 round trips from Farmington to Gallup, and everyone's favorite – but hardest to prove – 1,117 "country waltzes" across Texas.

On a serious note, the employees have been commended by Reclamation's Regional Director Larry Walkoviak, who said, "Because of the amount of driving we do to extremely remote job locations in all kinds of weather conditions, defensive safe driving is of paramount importance. I am grateful for the extra efforts our employees have put into their tremendous safety record."

East Portal Road Opens

Reclamation's Curecanti Field Office announced today that the East Portal Road located east of Montrose will open on Friday, April 5 at 7:30 a.m., after being closed for the winter months. The road, beginning at the junction with State Highway 347, provides access to the Gunnison River within the Curecanti National Recreation Area, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and Crystal Dam.

The East Portal Road will remain open throughout the summer and fall until snow, ice, or rockslides make it unsafe for travel.

For more information contact Ted Dunn at (970) 240-6300.

Reclamation Releases a Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact on Ridgway Dam Hydropower Interconnection Facilities

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Reclamation announced today that it released a final Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact on Ridgway Dam Hydropower Interconnection Facilities. The supplemental EA and FONSI augments the 2012 Ridgway Hydropower EA and FONSI and addresses additional details and information on the interconnection and transmission facilities.

Reclamation will issue a license agreement to Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association for construction of interconnection facilities to interconnect Tri-County Water Conservancy District Hydropower facilities to the existing 115-kV transmission line that runs along U.S. Highway 550. In addition, a memorandum of agreement will be signed with Tri-County to relocate dry storage facilities and utilities operated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife as part of Ridgway State Park.

Tri-County is currently constructing the hydropower facilities at Ridgway Dam on the Uncompahgre River in Ouray County, Colo. and operates and maintains Ridgway Dam.

The final EA and FONSI are available on our website under the "environmental documents" heading by contacting Steve McCall with Reclamation in Grand Junction at (970) 248-0638.

Navajo Nation Municipal Pipeline Title Transfer Agreement Negotiations Continue

DURANGO, Colo. - The Bureau of Reclamation, Navajo Nation, and city of Farmington, N.M. are continuing title transfer agreement negotiations for the Navajo Nation Municipal Pipeline, part of the Animas-La Plata Project. The meeting with the city is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at the Farmington City Hall Executive Conference Room in Farmington, N.M. The meeting with the Navajo Nation is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 28, 2013, at the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority Conference Room in Chinle, Ariz.

The title transfer agreements will convey title to each portion of the NNMP facilities or reaches of the pipeline to the Navajo Nation or the city.

All negotiations are open to the public as observers, and the public will have the opportunity to ask questions and offer comments pertaining to the title transfer agreement during a thirty minute comment period following the negotiation session. The proposed operations agreement and other pertinent documents will be available at the negotiation meeting; by visiting our website under Current Focus; or can be obtained by contacting Ryan Christianson at Reclamation, 185 Suttle Street, Suite 2, Durango, Colorado, 81303, telephone (970) 385-6590.

Reclamation Comments on Diesel Spill at Willard Bay

Salt Lake City, Utah - The Bureau of Reclamation has an environmental management officer now on site monitoring the initial response and cleanup work being conducted by Chevron Pipeline crews on the diesel fuel spill adjacent to the Willard Bay State Park. Willard Bay, created by the Arthur V. Watkins Dam, is a Reclamation facility managed by Reclamation's Provo Area Office in partnership with the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District.

Reclamation understands that the spill occurred from a Chevron pipeline, leaked into Willard Creek, which in turn feeds into Willard Bay. The spill was just north of "Eagle Beach" near Cottonwood Campground. While the land is within the state park, the property involved is actually Reclamation's as part of the overall Weber Basin Project.

At this point no diesel fuel has moved into the reservoir. The fuel leak was initially contained by a beaver dam on Willard Creek. Booms in the reservoir are now in place as a preventative measure to safeguard reservoir water, should oil move from Willard Creek into Willard Bay.

While the cleanup is the responsibility of Chevron, with oversight by appropriate state and federal officials, Reclamation's primary concern is the preservation of the high quality water supply in the reservoir. Additionally, Chevron’s environmental response team is implementing a water quality sampling program.

During the irrigation season, water can be pumped from the Arthur V. Watkins Reservoir for irrigation of lands lying along the shores of Great Salt Lake.

Reclamation Releases Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment on Ridgway Dam Hydropower Interconnection Facilities

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Reclamation announced today that it released a draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment on Ridgway Dam Hydropower Interconnection Facilities. The draft EA supplements the 2012 Ridgway Hydropower Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact and addresses additional details and information on the interconnection and transmission facilities.

The proposed action in the EA is to issue a license agreement and rights-of-way to Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association for construction of interconnection facilities to interconnect Tri-County Water Conservancy District hydropower facilities to the existing 115-kV transmission line that runs along U.S. Highway 550. In addition, a memorandum of agreement will be signed with Tri-County to relocate dry storage facilities and utilities operated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife as part of Ridgway State Park.

Tri-County is currently constructing the hydropower facilities at Ridgway Dam on the Uncompahgre River in Ouray County, Colo. and operates and maintains Ridgway Dam.

The draft supplemental environmental assessment is available on our website or a copy can be received by contacting Steve McCall with Reclamation in Grand Junction at (970) 248-0638 or smccall@usbr.gov.

Reclamation will consider all comments received prior to preparing a final environmental assessment. Comments can be submitted to the email address above or to: Ed Warner, Area Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, 2764 Compass Drive, Suite 106, Grand Junction, CO 81506. Comments are due by Friday, March 15, 2013.

Adaptive Management Work Group to Meet in Tempe, Ariz., on Colorado River Topics

The Bureau of Reclamation announced that the Adaptive Management Work Group will meet on February 20 - 21, 2013 in Tempe, Ariz., to address topics related to the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program. The AMWG committee provides a forum for discussion of topics related to the operation of Glen Canyon Dam and ongoing monitoring of resource conditions downstream of the dam.

A number of agenda items will be covered during the two-day meeting including current Upper Colorado River Basin hydrology and Glen Canyon Dam operations; the Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study; preliminary findings from the November 2012 high flow experimental release at Glen Canyon Dam; an update on humpback chub and non-native fish monitoring; and the status of the Glen Canyon Dam Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement including draft alternatives, process, and current schedule.

The AMWG is a federal advisory committee appointed by the Secretary of the Interior with representatives from federal agencies, Colorado River Basin states, Native American Tribal governments, environmental groups, recreation interests, and contractors for federal power from Glen Canyon Dam. The Secretary receives recommendations on how to best protect downstream resources and balance river operations through the varied stakeholder interests represented by the AMWG.

The meeting will be held at the Fiesta Resort Conference Center, 2100 Priest Drive, Tempe, Ariz. The meeting will begin on February 20 at 9:30 a.m. and conclude at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will run from 8:00 a.m. until noon on February 21. For more information on the Adaptive Management Work Group meeting, please visit our website.

Reclamation Releases a Record of Decision for Narrows Dam, Sanpete County, Utah

Reclamation's Provo Area Office announced today the release of the Record of Decision for the Narrows Project Final Environmental Impact Statement.

The Narrows Project is a non-federal dam and reservoir proposed by the Sanpete Water Conservancy District on Gooseberry Creek, a tributary of the Price River in central Utah. Water developed by the dam is intended to benefit irrigators and municipal water users in Sanpete County. In the FEIS Reclamation analyzed two federal actions: 1) approval or denial of a loan application under the Small Reclamation Projects Act; and 2) the licensing of SWCD's use of 304.5 acres of Reclamation withdrawn land for construction of the dam and reservoir.

In the ROD, Reclamation selected one of the federal actions and rejected the other. Reclamation will license the use of the federal land, but will not accept a loan application or fund a Small Reclamation Project Act loan. The license will be subject to a set of specific conditions described in the ROD and in the FEIS.

The ROD and FEIS are available on Reclamation's website. Questions should be directed to Mr. Wayne Pullan at 801-379-1194.

Reclamation to Conduct Seismic Stability Evaluation of Weber Basin Equalizing Dams

Bureau of Reclamation drill crews and geologists will begin seismic stability evaluation work at Combe and Farmington equalizing dams located in Ogden and Farmington canyons respectively, in early December as part of the periodic inspection and safety evaluations conducted under Reclamation's Safety of Dams Program.

The work will focus on analyzing the foundation materials of both dams which consist of clay, silt, sand, and gravel, to determine the potential for these materials to change from a solid into a liquid state during an earthquake. This process of liquefaction could seriously damage the structural integrity of the equalizing dams. The goal of the evaluation work is to ensure early detection of any potential seismic weakness that need to be addressed. Reclamation anticipates the evaluation work will be complete by spring 2013.

The reservoirs impounded behind Combe and Farmington equalizing dams are located along the Weber and Davis Aqueducts. Both dams were constructed as part of the Weber Basin Project between 1953 and 1967 to equalize the pressure inside the aqueducts which convey irrigation and municipal and industrial water in the north to Ogden and adjacent communities and south to North Salt Lake area communities.

Combe Dam is 25 feet high and 500 feet long with a reservoir capacity of 162 acre-feet. Farmington Dam is 30 feet high and 2,140 feet long with a reservoir capacity of 101 acre-feet.

Reclamation to Close East Portal Road for the Winter

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Reclamation's Curecanti Field Office announced today that due to icy conditions, the East Portal Road located east of Montrose, Colo. has closed for the winter. The road, beginning at the junction with State Highway 347, provides access to the Gunnison River within the Curecanti National Recreation Area, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and Crystal Dam.

The road will reopen next spring as weather conditions permit. For more information contact Ted Dunn at (970) 240-6300.