Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
CWCB accepts BLM offer for perpetual lease interest in Mineral Point Ditch to restore Burrows Creek flows
Loading...
Summary
The board accepted a Bureau of Land Management offer to grant the CWCB a perpetual lease interest in the Mineral Point Ditch water right (11 cfs) for in‑stream flow use on Burrows Creek and authorized staff to pursue a water‑court change case to add ISF use and seasonal monthly rates.
The Colorado Water Conservation Board voted to accept the Bureau of Land Management’s offer to grant the CWCB a contractual interest in the Mineral Point Ditch water right and to pursue a water‑court change case to add in‑stream flow use.
Lisa Breitunger, CWCB staff, said the Mineral Point Ditch is decreed for 11 cubic feet per second and historically exported water from the Animas Basin into the Uncompahgre Basin. Under the proposed perpetual lease the BLM would grant CWCB the right to use the full decreed amount for ISF purposes; staff and partners analyzed limited historical use and recommended a change case to request monthly seasonal flow rates for June through September.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife told the board Burrows Creek currently does not support an overwintering fishery because of elevation and flow limitations but that the proposed lease would restore flows June through September, improve streamside wetlands and macroinvertebrate communities, and help manage acid‑mine drainage in the Bonita Peak Superfund area.
The staff recommendation to accept the BLM offer, determine that the best use of the acquired interest is to preserve the natural environment, authorize the CWCB director to sign the perpetual lease, and file a water‑court application was moved and approved by the board on a voice vote.
