Rangely officials warn of critical low flows on White River; two-week buffer if mandatory cuts imposed

Rangely's town manager told the council that White River flows below Boise Creek have dropped to levels about 50% below the lowest previously recorded flow, and staff are preparing for possible mandatory water reductions.

"At this point...we dropped below 50, cubic feet per 2nd," the town manager said while walking through flow charts and system capacity. He said the town's maximum pump draw with both pumps is about 6 cubic feet per second and that, with mandatory reductions in place, the system could last about two weeks on stored supply. He warned of a roughly four-week period of elevated risk while a nearby hydroelectric system is repaired.

The manager outlined operational thresholds and two-stage reduction options tied to flow measurements, saying the town has so far asked callers for voluntary reductions (stage 1). He described options staff are evaluating, including trucking water, purchasing water from Vernal, and coordinating with upstream users and county officials. "We've looked at the cost of trucking water in. The trucking cost would be the most significant," he said.

Council members pressed staff on causes and contingency plans. One member raised whether a shut hydroelectric unit was contributing to low flows; the manager agreed it was a factor and said the hydro owner offered to let council members inspect the station while repairs are underway. Members also discussed wildfire ash and debris concerns from upriver that could affect intake and treatment.

The council did not adopt emergency restrictions during the meeting but heard that staff are monitoring flows daily, coordinating with county and federal partners, and preparing implementation steps should mandatory reductions become necessary.