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Home My WebLink About820734.tiff Kill COUNTY ClOri whim,, P.I ♦1 L. WATER INTELLIGENCE REPORT 2 7.12 H Colorado Water Congress • 1390 Logan St., Rm. 312 • Denver, Colorado 802 4REELE . COLO. Dick MacRavey, Editor March 31, 1982 EIDSNESS Frederick A. "Eric" Fidsness, Jr. :, of Fla:;onville, Colorado was confirmed on CONFIRMED 3/23/82 by the U.S. Senate to the position of Assistant Administrator for 'TO EPA Water with EPA. As Assistant Administrator for Water, Eidsness, 37, will be POST respons 'ble for administering net only the Clean Water Act, which includes a multibillion-dollar sewage treatment program, but also the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Marine Protection Act., which controls the dumping of wastes into the ocean. Since September 1981, Eidsness has served as a consultant to the EPA Administra- tor on water issues. From 1978 to 1981, he was a partner in the management consulting firm of BMML Inc. , in Boulder, Colorado. From 1975 to 1978, Eidsness served as director of water and air quality plannng of the Larirner-We=ld Regional Council of Governments in Loveland. Colorado. In this capacity, he directed development of an areawide plan for curbing wastewater discharges. Eidsness also is a former EPA employee. During 1970 to 1973, he worked in the construction grants program at EPA's regional office in Atlanta, Georgia. He helped prepare one of the agency's first environmental impact statements (on a regional• sewage treatment project in the metropolitan Atlanta area) . Mr. Eidsness, incidentally, was a member of the 1980-81 Colorado Water Congress Legislative Committee. PRINCIPLES Interior Secretary James Watt on 3/22/82 invited public comment on the AND Reagan Administration's proposal for new Economic and Environmental Princi- GUIrINES pies and Guidelines for planning water projects. The proposed new "Princi- ples and Guidelines" appear in the March 22, 1982, Federal Register. A 60-day period has been set for public comments on the proposal , which upon final adop- tion would cover water project planning by the Army Corps of Engineers (Civil Works), the Interior Department's Bureau of Reclamation, the Department of Agriculture's Soil Conservation Service, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Essentially, the new Principles and Guidelines st.:Ck to enhance the viability of water projects by making the chief planning objective national e:.onomic development. Environ- mental quality, social effects and regional benefits would continue to be considered in the evaluation process. Continued full compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act will assure protection of the environment. Besides sharpening the focus on the economics o; water projects, other intended bene-.'its of the proposal are to improve flexibility, reduce paperwork, and shorten the lead time required to develop a concept into feasibility plans and alternatives for consideration by decision-makers. The new Principles and Cuidelines. wouli replace the Federal Government's existing Princi- ples, Standards, and TToced!Jres or water project panning, which the Administration considers too rigid and csmplex for effective use. The proposed guidelines were devel- oped for the Cabinet Council on Natural Resources and Environment by its Working Group on Water Resources. Comments are to be addressed 4n writing to the Water Resources Council , 2120 L Street, U.W., Washington, D.C. 20037. BUREAU OF Interior Secretary James Watt and Reclamation Commissioner Robert Broadbent RECLAMATION have presented details of she Bureau's FY83 Construction Budget Request FY83 BUDGET before both the Energy and Water Subcommittees of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Major elements of the construction request in- clude: CAP $161M (AZ); CUP $89.9M (UT); CVP $60M, Sacramento River $11.8M, San Luis Dam $1.2M (CA) ; Dolores $46.8M, Dallas Creek Project $43M, Grand Valley Canal & Laterals $16.3M, Frying Pan-Arkansas $12.7M. San Luis Project $4.8M (CO); Columbia Basin $50.4M, aeo7sa 4- a.,/./e- ea 'L WATER INTELLIGENCE REPORT -2- March 31, 1982 Chief Joseph Oroville-Tonasket Unit $16.7M (WA); McGee Creek $53M (OK) ; Colorado Basin Salinity Control Project $44.3M; rehabilitation and betterment projects $26.6M; safety of dams program $25.8M; Calamus Dam $22.6M (NE); drainage and minor construction $19.4M; recreation and fish and wildlife facilities $13.7M; Garrison Diversion Unit $4M (ND) ; and the Southern Navada Water Project $2M. (WINS 2-28-82) A Washington Post editorial of February 19 called the proposed 23% increase in the Reclamation buagot a 'very wasteful federal subsidy." The editorial referred to a GAO study of six "full repayment" projects and concluded that low water prices encourage "waste of both water and money" in projects that "would never be built if the money had to come from local funds." On March 13 the Post printed a response from Reclamation Commissioner Robert H. Broadbent. He outlined water project needs in the growing West, and recited direct and indirect repayments and benefits from the reclamation program which exceed costs by a 4:1 ratio. The letter said, "Irrigation farmers alone cannot pay back the federal dollars invested in project facilities. .." but 85% of other con- struction costs are repaid through the sale of hydropower and water for purposes other than farming. "A stiffer pricing policy is now being developed," Broadbent said, adding that while the Bureau does promote water conservation, conservation alone "will fall far short of meeting the growing demand." (Reprinted from March 26, 1982 issue of Western States Water) ENDANGERED The Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Environment Pollu- SPECIES tion has scheduled hearings on reauthorization of the Endangered Species ACT Act on April 14 and 19. A bill is currently being drafted by Senator John Chafee (R-RI), Chairman of the Subcommittee, which will be ready by the hearings. (Reprinted from March 26, 1982 issue of Western States Water) EIS Commissioner of Reclamation Robert N. Broadbent announced on 3/24/82 that a final TOT Environmental Impact Statement on Water Allocations and Water Service Contracting fAT for the Central Arizona Project (CAP) has been filed with the Environmental Pro- tection Agency (EPA) . The statement describes the affected environment and the impacts of six alternatives for allocating Arizona's remaining entitlement of Colorado River water to be supplied through the CAP. These alternatives are based on allocations for Indian use made by previous interior Secretaries; previous State recommendations for allocations to municipal , industrial , and agricultural users; suggestions received during the scoping process; guidance received from Secretary of the Interior James Watt in November 1981; and new recommendations from the State of Arizona. Copies of the Final Environmental Impact Statement may be obtained from: the Regional Director, Lower Colorado Region, Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 427, Boulder City, Nevada 89005; or from the Project Manager, Arizona Projects Office, Bureau of Reclamation, Suite 2200, Valley Center, 201 Norte Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85073. SOUTH PLATTE The first annual meeting of the South Platte River Compact Administration COMPACT is scheduled to start at 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 7, 1982 in the Jules- MEETING burg High School Auditorium, Julesburg, Colorado. The agenda is as follows: (1) Welcome and Explanation of Reason for Meeting; (2) Comments by the Nebraska Commissioner; (3) Comments by the Colorado Commissioner; (4) Formal Presentations by Various Water User Entities (limited to 15 minutes each) -- (a) Nebras- ka i. South Platte Supply Diversion of the Nebraska Public Power District; ii. Tri- County Diversion of the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District; iii. Per- kins County Canal of the Twin Platte Natural Resources District; and iv. Irrigation, hydro-power and endangered species habitat maintenance projects downstream from North Platte; (b) Colorado -- i . Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District, ii . Trans- WATER INTELLIGENCE REPORT -3- March 31, 1982 County Water Users; and iii . Badger-Beaver Water Conservancy District; (c) U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; (5) Questions and Answers; and (6) Adjournment. PHIPPS After completing a career spanning 31 years of service to the Northern Colo- AND rado Water Conservancy District and Municipal Subdistrict, Earl F. Phipps will ST SON be retiring from the post of Secretary-Manager effective May 1 as was announced at the March meeting of the Board of Directors. Following the May 1 date, Phipps will serve as an executive consultant to the Board pursuing water project plan- ning, contract negc:tiations, policy format'on and management consulting. Appointed to fill the manager post was Larry 0.. Simpson, currently assistant manager and treasurer of the District. Simpson also serves as treasurer and chief engineer of the Subdistrict. Along with the appointment, Simpson was elected by the Directors to serve as secretary. Phipps completed thirty-one years with the NCWCD on March 1 and was the third employee hired by the organization as the Colorado-Big Thompson Project facilities were being completed. He directed the ieitia.l operations of those facilities and then served as operations and maintenance superintendent until 1964. He then served as assistant man- ager until 1974 when he succeeded J.R. Barkley as manager. A graduate of Colorado A&M (now CSU) he is a charter member and past president of both the Colorado Water Congress and Four States Irrigation Council , He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, is a member of the Colorado Water Re- sources Research Institute Oversight Committee, and the Larimer County Extension Advi- sory Committee. He participates in both the Hardin and Cache la Poudre water project advisory committees and has been the recipient of several water related awards includ- ing the Headgate Award of the Four States Council . Larry D. Simpson is a native of Eaton and a graduate of Eaton High School . He received a Professional Engineering Degree from the Colorado School of Mines in 1959. He is a licensed Civil Engineer in both California and Colorado. Besides the engineering back- ground, Simpson was awarded his Masters of Business Administration from California State University in 1567. He served as an officer in the United States Army Corps of Engineers and worked with the Los Angeles County Flood Control District in water re- sources design and management for 12 years. During his eleven years with the NCWCD, he has served as planning coordinator, assistant manager, and treasurer. He is the immediate past president of the Colorado Water Congress, a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the National Water Resources Association, Four States Irri- gation Council and the Colorado River Water Users Association among others. COLORADO The Water Section of the Colorado. Bar Association is conducting a one-day RIVER seminar on "The Law of the Colorado River." This seminar starts at 8 a.m. , SEMINAR Friday, April 2, 1981 in the "Theater" of the BROADMOOR Hotel , Colorado Springs. The registration fee is $95.00. For more information, it is sug- gested that you contact Continuing Legal Education of Colorado, 250 West 14th Avenue, Denver (or phone--753-3351) . The seminar agenda is as follows: 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. -- Registration; 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. -- Speaker, Glenn G. Saunders, Esq. , Denver, Colorado. Topic: The Colorado River Compact of 1922 -- A Discussion of its impact on Colorado users, and the mutual mistake on which it is founded; 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. -- Speaker, The Honorable Jean Breitenstein, United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, Denver, Colorado. Topic: A Historical Perspective on the Upper Colorado River Compact of 1948; 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. -- Coffee Break; 11:00 to 12:00 p.m. -- Speaker, Raphael J. Moses, Esq., Boulder, Colorado. Topic: The Addition of Water Quality and Salinity Control Constraints to the Law of the Colorado River; 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. -- Lunch, Speaker, Dr. Jeris Danielson, State Engineer, Denver, Colorado. Topic: Administration of the Colo- rado River to Comply with the Law of the River; 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. -- Speaker, Kenneth WATER INTELLIGENCE REPORT -4- March 31, 1982 Balcomb, Esq. , Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Topic: The White River Problem -- Have its waters been apportioned?; 2:45 to 3:35 p.m. -- Speaker, Ival Goslin, Grand Junction, Colorado. Topic: The Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956 and the Colorado River Basin Project Act of 1968 -- What do they mean for Colorado?; 3:45 to 4:00 p.m. -- Cof- fee Break; and 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. -- Speaker, Frank (Sammy) Maynes, Esq. , Durango, Colo- rado. Topic: The Effects of Subcompacts and Federal Reclamation Projects in South- western Colorado on the Law of the River. COLORADO WATER At the February 16, 1982 meeting of the Colorado Water Resources and RESOURCES AND Power Development Authority Board of Directors, the following indivi- POWER DEVELOPMENT duals were elected officers: Chairman -- W.D. Farr of Greeley, Vice AUTHORITY Chairman -- James B. Kenney, Jr. , of Denver, Secretary -- Thomas R. Sharp of Steamboat Springs, and Treasurer -- L. Richard Bratton of Gunnison. In addition at the February meeting, Jim Wilson of the Denver law firm of Hayes & Wilson was retained as Special Legal Counsel for a four month period. At the March 22 meeting of the Authority Board, it was announced that Ival Goslin of Grand Junction was retained as a consultant to perform the duties of Executive Director. Mr. Goslin, as many readers know, retired as Executive Director of the Upper Colorado River Commission (1955 to 1979) . Mr. Goslin is also the first recipient of the CWC "Wayne N. Aspinall Water. Leader of the Year Award." One other footnote on the Authority -- it "appears very possible" that the Authority's new offices will be on the second floor of the 1390 Logan Street Office Building, Denver (same building as the Water Congress). A final decision should be made by the end of this week (April 2) . ASPINALL A color photograph (11 x 14) of the painting (Rudi Reservoir) presented to 2ND AWARD Glenn Saunders as the second recipient of the "Wayne N. Aspinall Water Leader PAINTING of the Year Award" at the 24th Annual Convention of the Colorado Water Con- gress is available for $15. If interested in obtaining a copy of this photo- graph, please contact the Colorado Water Congress, 1390 Logan Street, Room 312, Denver, Colorado 80203. ENDANGERED The Colorado State University Department of Fishery and Wildlife Biology SPECIE'S and the student chapters of the Wildlife Society and American Fisheries SEMINAR Society are sponsoring an endangered species seminar. The organizations represented in the panel discussion include Colorado Division of Wildlife, Western Regional Council , United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Audubon Society, Colorado River Water Conservation District, and the National Environmental Defense Fund. The purpose is to present viewpoints on the ESA and to inform the public of the implications of the renewal of the act. The seminar will be held on Saturday, April 17, 1982, from 1 :00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Colorado State University Social Sciences Building, Room A-101. For further information, please contact: Department of Fishery and Wildlife Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523. TAYLOR DRAW The Sacramento District, Corps of Engineers, has released a Draft EIS on RESERVOIR EIS the Taylor Draw Reservoir Project. The proposed reservoir would have a storage capacity of 13,800 acre-feet and would be located on the White River about 5 miles upstream from the Town of Rangley, Rio Blanco County, Colorado. Written comments on the Draft EIS received by May 10, 1982 will be considered and re- sponded to in the final EIS. Copies of the Draft EIS can be obtained by written re- quest to the Regulatory Section, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, 650 Capitol Mall , Sacramento, California 95814, or by calling (916) 440-2541. Hello