Nine Basin Bulletin - Fall 2024
Hi! Welcome to our 2024 Fall Nine Basin Bulletin. We hope your fall is off to a great start, and we are excited to share upcoming water events, news, legislation, and other water happenings! The Nine Basins Bulletin is the Southwestern Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Water Information Program (WIP) newsletter.
Upcoming Water Events
SWCD Events
09-23-24 - Special Board Meeting - Audit Review and Potential Acceptance - Remote
10-09 & 10 -24 - Regular Board Meeting - SWCD Office & Remote
10-17-24 - Water Law in a Nutshell - Norwood, CO (more info below)
10-23-24 - Water Connections during Fort Lewis College Water Week- Four Corners Water Center - Fort Lewis College
Other Events
10-01 & 02-24 - C9 Summit - Crested Butte, CO - more information can be found here
10-24-24 - Southwest Basin Roundtable Meeting - Durango, CO - more information can be found here
10-20-24 through 10-25-24 - Water Week at Fort Lewis College - more information can be found here
- 10/21/24 FLC Water Seminar Series with Colorado State Senator Cleave Simpson
- 10-22-24 through 10-24-24 - San Miguel Integrated Hydro Model Workshop - more information can be found at: San Miguel Watershed Coalition - Register Here!
- 10-23-24 Water Connections
- 10-24-24 USA Jobs Workshop with the US Geological Survey
- 10-25-24 Tribal Water Media Showcase
News
2024 SWCD Seminar Panel Videos Now Available! Click Below:
Southwest Water Seminar - Southwestern Water Conservation District (swwcd.org)
Southwest Roundtable New Website, Now Live! Click Below:
Home - Southwest Basins Roundtable of Colorado (swbasinsroundtable.org)
SWCD Grant Program is Now Open! Click Below:
Financial Assistance Program - Southwestern Water Conservation District (swwcd.org)
SWCD Fall Announcements
The Southwestern Water Conservation District's August 2024 events included a tour on August 7th in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, featuring visits to local water projects, which the San Juan Conservancy District facilitated. SWCD thanks the San Juan Conservancy District for their hospitality! The following day, August 8th, a regular board meeting occurred from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Ross Aragon Community Center, with a virtual option available. The meeting covered legislative updates, legal reports on water cases, staff reports on regional water issues, and hydrology updates.
News Articles that piqued our interest:
In the Basin
- How the Dolores Project changed lives in the Colorado Ute communities Article and Film -Rocky Mountain PBS 09-17-24
- The Value of Snow Film - San Juan Water Conservancy District 9-17-24
- First snow dusting arrives, courtesy of cooler temps and Tropical Storm Illeana - The Durango Herald 9/17/24
- August was a generous monsoon month in Cortez - The Journal 09-09-24
- PAWSD board discusses funding options for Vista project - The Pagosa Sun 09-04-24
- Town to enter negotiations to purchase property along river - The Pagosa Sun 09-04-24
From the State
- Our view: 'Yes' to funding water projects with gambling taxes - The Durango Herald 09-11-24
- How water in Southern Colorado's rivers gets divvied up before crossing state lines - Colorado Public Radio 09-09-24
- For better water forecasts, scientists say we should pay more attention to spring - The Durango Herald 09-06-24
- Show us the data: northern Water questions deal to purchase one of Colorado's oldest water rights - The Colorado Sun 08-27-24
- From Coors to Leprino, Colorado companies dial down water use as water shortages loom - Water Education Colorado - 09-05-24
Other
- Texas is running out of water - Newsweek 09-11-24
- Arizona election 2024: What to know about Corporation Commission, Central Arizona Water Conservation District Races - The Arizona Republic 09-11-24
- Utah has a $276M bet on farms to save Colorado River water. How's it going? - The Salt Lake Tribune 09-11-24
Water Information Program Update
Waterlaw in a Nutshell
The Water Information Program is pleased to present this full-day water law course. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to learn with Aaron Clay in Norwood, CO.
Tickets now on Sale: Water Law in a Nutshell Tickets, Thu, Oct 17, 2024 at 8:30 AM | Eventbrite
Location: Lone Cone Library - 1455 Pinion Street, Norwood, CO 81423
Summary: Join us for an informative course where we will discuss the ins and outs of water law in a nutshell. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone interested in learning more about this important topic.
This full day seminar will cover all aspects of the law related to water rights and ditch rights as applied in Colorado. Subject matter includes the appropriation, perfection, use, limitations, attributes, abandonment and enforcement of various types of water rights. Additional subject matter will include special rules for groundwater, public rights in appropriated water, interstate compacts, and more.
Date: Thu, October 17, 2024
Time: 08:30 AM - 4:30 PM
We welcome EVERYONE, from anywhere in Colorado, including landowners, realtors, lawyers, water district employees, teachers, and anyone else interested in water law.
Registration includes lunch and course materials. Continuing education credits available for Realtors, Assessors and Atorneys at an additional cost.
Continuing Education Credits Available:
Realtors CE: 8 hours
Assessors CE: 4 hours
Attorneys: 8 hours CLE
Come and network with fellow enthusiasts, ask questions and gain valuable insights into the world of water law. Don't miss out on this opportunity to expand your knowledge and connect with like-minded individuals. See you there!
Legislative Updates
Although we are out of session, there is a lot of activity in the legislative world; please look below for some events SWCD has flagged.
State
House Bill 24B-1001
- Bill and More Information - Colorado General Assembly
- In the News: Gov. Jard Polis signs bill to end Colorado's 'property tax wars' - at least for 6 years - Colorado Politics 9/04/24
Water Resource and Agricultural Review Committee
- Considering interim bills for introduction
- Website for more information: Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee | Colorado General Assembly
Federal
Water Project Navigators Program
- Press Release - U.S. Senator Hickenlooper
- Bill: Text - S.5014 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Water Project Navigators Act | Congress.gov
Good Samaritan Bill
- Passes House Committee
- Press Release - Trout Unlimited
Funding
SWCD Grant Program is Now Open!
Financial Assistance Program - Southwestern Water Conservation District (swwcd.org)
Don’t Know Where to Start?
Current water project funding opportunities are a lot to take in. That’s part of why the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) hired regional water plan grant managers–to help project proponents navigate this once-in-a-generation opportunity to implement projects statewide. Contact Laura Spann (based in Durango), laura.spann@state.co.us, 720-916-7723 if you need help getting started.
Other Resources:
- Senator John Hickenlooper Grant Navigation Webiste
- Opportunity Navigator CWCB has compiled this database to serve as a tool for people and organizations across Colorado to navigate all available funding opportunities for water projects in a single place.
- Irrigation Infrastructure Resource Hub Have a water funding need but don’t know where to start? DARCA and the River Network teamed up to create this hub.
- Water Plan Grants The CWCB offers grants to advance the goals of the Colorado Water Plan. Adding storage? Have a multi-benefit project? Lots of project partners, collaboration? An innovative or landscape-scale project? It might fit well here. Roundtable letters of support, while not required, add value to your application. If you want their consideration, the Southwest Basin Roundtable requests a short proposal and presentation at a meeting.
Want to apply for federal water grants but don’t have the staff capacity?
- The Colorado Water Conservation Board’s Federal Technical Assistance Program can help you review the many federal funding opportunities currently available for water projects and prepare and submit federal grant applications. The Technical Assistance Program can also help enhance your projects with feasibility studies, planning, and partial design/engineering so that they stand out in the highly competitive federal grant process. The Technical Assistance Program is accepting applications through fall 2024. For more information, visit the Technical Assistance Program website or contact Michael Regan at michael.regan@state.co.us
- WaterSMART Program Portal This site houses Reclamation's schedule for funding through WaterSMART and Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration and opportunities for Multi-Benefit Projects to Improve Watershed Health.
- Colorado Wildlife Mitigation Funding: Here's a list of state, federal, and private funding available for a wide variety of wildfire mitigation projects, including Watershed Health.
Career Opportunities
CPW Wildlife Manager III/Area Aquatic Biologist - Durango - $63,624-$82,716
Please email morock@swwcd.org if you know of any positions you'd like to share in this newsletter.