Colorado River District update: Shoshone purchase fundraising reaches roughly $55M; federal funding sought

Mike Richard (Colorado River Water Conservation District) briefed the Grand County commissioners on regional water efforts, highlighting the Shoshone power plant purchase campaign and statewide water policy. Richard said, "So far over 20 West Slope water entities and, local governments have contributed, 15,250,000 in local funding. Dollars 20,000,000 have come from the Colorado Water Conservation Board, 20,000,000 from the Colorado River District... That total so far is, 55,250,000," toward an overall $99,000,000 purchase goal.

He described ongoing outreach to secure federal funds through programs in the Inflation Reduction Act and told commissioners that a Bureau of Reclamation application is due mid-October and that a letter of support template will be supplied to the county. Richard also reviewed hydrology: reservoir and soil-moisture conditions, coordinated reservoir operations to mimic high flows for fish spawning, and pilot projects to conserve consumptive use. He cautioned that conservations programs need tighter sideboards and monitoring to verify that saved consumptive use actually reaches Lake Powell and credited local pilot studies showing uncertain short-term agricultural recovery after fallowing.

Commissioners asked technical questions about measuring consumptive use, return flows and credits; Richard recommended more local studies and closer CWCB coordination. The board asked staff to expect follow-up on the federal application and be prepared to review a template support letter.