I_WRRC_2019A 09/11/2019 01:32:45 PM Committee Summary

Becky Mitchell, Director, Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), and Brent Newman, CWCB Staff, updated the committee on the Colorado River Basin Drought Contingency Plans (DCPs) and demand management programs.  Ms. Mitchell and Mr. Newman discussed the status of the DCPs and responded to committee questions.  

Mr. Newman discussed the documents and agreements of the DCPs, including Lower Basin agreements, operational provisions, agreements with Arizona, California, and Nevada, as well as the upper basin DCP, including a drought response operations agreement and the demand management storage agreement.  Committee discussion ensued.

Mr. Newman explained demand management to the committee.  The committee discussed possible curtailment in regards to compact compliance.

Ms. Mitchell discussed the CWCB's 2019 work plan, including guidance, goals, storage, and minimum requirements. Ms. Mitchell continued by discussing outreach and transparency of the process and the working group.

Mr. Newman discussed the process of the working group and responded to committee questions.

Mr. Newman and Ms. Mitchell addressed committee questions around funding, agricultural impacts, economics, local governments, education, outreach, and environmental considerations.  They explained the lower basin DCP implementation and long-term river operations and responded to committee questions.

John Carron, Hydros Consulting, Brad Udall, Colorado State University Water Institute, and Taylor Hawes, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), discussed issues and challenges facing the Colorado River.  Mr. Carron discussed the Colorado River Compact and Colorado's potential risk in future years, Lake Powell storage, and responded to committee questions.  Mr. Udall gave a presentation on climate change impacts to the Colorado River, including water supplies and demands, future outlook, and responded to committee questions.  Ms. Hawes discussed TNC's role in the Colorado River Basin and responded to committee questions.

Andy Mueller, General Manager, Colorado River Water Conservation District, and Frank Kugel, General Manger, Southwestern Water Conservation District discussed the Colorado River Basin and the roles of their districts in the basin.

Ms. Mitchell returned to the table to respond to committee questions.  Mr. Mueller and Mr. Kugel continued their discussion about potential demand management programs in the basin.

Brad Wind, General Manager, Northern Water, discussed how Northern Water uses water from the Colorado River Basin.

Jim Lochhead, CEO/Manager, Denver Water, discussed how Denver Water uses water from the Colorado river basin and how water might be used in the future in the basin.  Mr. Lochhead, Mr. Wind, and Mr. Mueller responded to committee questions.

Ryan Gilliom, representing herself as a doctoral student at Colorado School of Mines, provided comments about the Colorado River Basin.