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County manager: drought risks, CWCB seat vacancy and a possible Northern Water contract pathway
Summary
County manager reported on the Colorado Basin roundtable: low soil moisture across Grand County, planned Bureau of Reclamation releases from Lake Powell, an open Colorado Water Conservation Board seat (Paul Boucher's), and a Northern Water draft supplement contract tied to Senate Document 80 that could enable an initial 500 acre-feet allocation to the county if Reclamation concurrence is obtained.
The county manager summarized a Colorado Basin roundtable meeting, highlighting drought indicators and management steps. He said soil moisture in Grand County was deep in the red and noted concern that low low-elevation snowpack could influence reservoir inflows. He also cited Bureau of Reclamation figures discussed at the roundtable, referencing planned releases from Lake Powell (the manager said the Bureau intends to release 7,830,000 acre-feet in the year referenced for 2025 and 2026).
The manager said Paul Boucher did not reapply for his seat on the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and that applications are open for a Colorado River Basin representative. He said Northern Water had circulated a draft supplement contract, styled as a supplement to a supplement tied to Senate Document 80 (the historic enabling legislation referenced in CBT matters), and that, pending concurrence from the Bureau of Reclamation, the county could receive an initial 500 acre-feet into its account under the agreement.
Commissioners discussed grant cycles for the water-supply revolving fund, timing of state grant cycles and the county’s plan to provide documents to the board ahead of a February 13 meeting about EMS Station 1 bond documents and rating-agency briefings.
