HomeMy WebLinkAbout20012355 RESOLUTION
RE: SUPPORT EFFORTS TO ENSURE AVAILABILITY OF WATER CURRENTLY
STORED IN ASPINALL UNIT TO ALL COLORADO WATER USERS
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to
Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of
administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners has been informed that a federally
constructed water storage project in Western Colorado, the Aspinall Unit, currently has 300,000
acre-feet of water in storage dedicated for consumptive uses in Colorado, and
WHEREAS, given that the populations of Weld County and Northern Colorado are
growing rapidly, it is prudent to plan for future water needs by exploring the possibility of
procuring renewable water supplies in cooperation with other jurisdictions, and
WHEREAS, it is the opinion of the Board that the taxpayers of the State of Colorado,
with the assistance of their elected federal representatives, should be entitled to utilize the
Aspinall Unit water for domestic and residential use.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Weld County, Colorado, that the Board hereby supports the efforts of Congressmen Joel
Hefley, Bob Schaffer and Tom Tancredo to ensure that water currently stored in the Aspinall
Unit remains available to all Colorado water users, especially those along the Front Range who
have identified future needs for additional renewable water supply.
The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted
by the following vote on the 22nd day of August, A.D., 2001.
BOARD OF C UNTY COMMISSIONERS
ewe_ WELD CO Y, COLORADO
ATTEST: :L ) I� etas
�e . J.��eile, C airman
,vvt ,iZ(Gltl
Weld County Clerk to th � .: r�'�,���
Yale
� �p f Glenn Vaa , ro-Tem
BY: ales 6 i9.tIt
Deputy Clerk to the Boar". �I
Willi H. Jerke
APPR VED AS TO FORM: (4(`n
7 - David E. Long 6G`, ��^County Attorney OA VY' .
/ Robert D. Masden
Date of signature: 494/
/`r
2001-2355
BC0031
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iu1-24-01 10:00am Free- i-snn r.,ucs rs o
ARAPAHOE COUNTY COLORADO
!WARD S COUNTY L Littleton,
Colorado
COMMISSIONERS
6334 South Prince Street •Littleton, 80166-0001 lilt'
Phone 303.796,4630•FAX 903.730.7894
httpWtwww.co.arapehoe.00.ua'e•mail:Commissioners aco.arapahoe.co.us
July 23,2001
The honorable Joel Hefley
Fifth Congressional District
- 2230 Rayburn House Office Building .
Washington,D.C.20515-0605
•
Dear Congressman Helley:
Thank you for your diligent efforts to ensure that water front the Aspinall Unit for Mali benefit
all citizens of Colorado remains a Bureau Planning option. The action taken b j, you wi
Representative Tancredo and Schaffer. to secure a federal determinadot{ that Aspi%a11 W '
remain available for existing and future needs for the Front Range,has shown a keen;awaaen •
of the complex process requital for prudent water policy and drought planning.
Your courage in stepping forward on this important issue deserves recognition and!mist
• we pledge as elected officials to build on your efforts by seeking cooperation at the stare level
a win/win process to develop the water infrastructure you have helped secure.•
We firmly believe in the efficiency and responsiveness of local government However;,that
some policy fields that surpass our ability to have influence. That is why we , upon o .
congressional delegation to assert its influence and powers of persuasion,and you are 'prfo '
beyond our expectations. Please rely on us for support and whatever local knowledg you
require in this quest.
Sincerely and respectfully yours,
•
Marie A. Mackenzie
Commission Chairman j+
Sown eackmen John ltrecknay Mark Mackenite Lynn Myra I Debto A: ckrey
1
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Congress of tin tiniteb &state%
Washington.DC 20515
July 18,2001
The Honorable Gale Norton
U.S. Department of the Interior
Washington,DC 20240.0001
Dear Secretary Norton:
We are writing to ask your assistance to ensure the future ability to provide new water for
domestic,agricultural and industrial water use in Colorado. You,more than most people,
recognize that this is a matter of great importance.
As you know,in recent litigation,both the U.S.Bureau of Reclamation and the Colorado
Attorney General's office stated that the federal Aspinall Unit currently has in storage up to
240.000 acre feet of water available for consumptive use in Colorado,as part of its compact
entitlement. Given ever increasing demands,this compact-apportioned water is critical for the
finer*re of the state.
'The Bureau of Reclamation is currently in the process of forecasting new water
depletions for the Aspinall Unit for the period 2000-2050 as part of the proposed biologic I
opinion for the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program. Unfortunately,the current wo ing
document fails to recognize the 240,000 acre feet identified by the Colorado Supreme Co in
Board of County Commissioners v.Crystal Creek Homeowners'Association(the"Union ark
case.'). The McGarran amendment requires all federal agencies to comply with state WE Ir law.
This includes the State Supreme Court's determination in this instance.
Our purpose in writing is to ask you to ensure that the process used by the Bureau its
forecast of Aspinall Unit depletions for the next 50 years includes all of Colorado's mark able
water.The project which stores this water has already been built. The water has been id Wed
as being available for consumptive use.. Its use would have no impact on recreational,
agricultural or municipal water use above the project in Gunnison County. The Bureau o
Reclamation further subordinated 60,000 acre feet in Blue Mesa to water uses in the up basin.
The time is right to use this process to look at all opportunities to use this asset for the be -fit of
the entire state.
Thank yon for your time and attention to this matter. We look forward to working with
you. If you need any additional information,feel free to contact any one of tit
Sincerely,
oe Nefley,M.r d Bob Sc affer, . . . Thomas G.Tancredo,
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II •
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