Ridenbaugh Press/Water Rights

The city of Crossville, Tennessee, has proposed a one-time $500,000 purchase of limited water rights from Lake Tansi, one of several lakes near the city and one used for lakeshore homes and recreation. The plan has drawn some concern from lake property owners and others, and response to it appears uncertain.

Under certain conditions, the city would pump as much as 5,000 gallons a minute to its water filtration system. The city would use the water only when a drought is declared by the federal government, during wet winter periods and to make up water losses during a period of dam reconstruction at Meadow Park lake.

Residents along the lake expressed concern about recreation and property values if water is drawn down too far.

[Crossville (TN) Chronicle, July 7]

recreation at Steamboat Springs

If the downstream states in the Colorado River Basin – signatories to the basin-wide compact – were to issue a call for all of the water they have claim to, the upper states – such as Colorado and Wyoming – could face serious loss issues. And that might be more especially true the further upstream you go.

Welcome to upstream and mountainous Steamboat Springs, where council members were told on February 4 that their city might be able to get only half the water it needs in the face of such a call.

The local Pilot newspaper noted, “The sobering revelation un derscored council’s consideration of adopting a water dedication policy that would require the developers of annexed properties to bring water rights, or resources to develop existing water rights, to the table as a condition of annexation.”

Steamboat Springs has been at the center of regional discussions about recreation water rights. But the new discussion also concerns the city’s general municipal water rights. The city is on the Yampa River, a tributary of the Colorado.

The Glenwood Springs City Council said this week it will put off for a while a decision about whether to pursue water rights which would be used for a new whitewater recreation park in the area. The key reason for holding off: The high prospective cost involved, which could amount to a half-million dollars.

A central aspect of the decision relates to the city budget process. The necessary money isn’t allotted in the current city budget.

The park has been in operation since this spring. It already has hosted a number of events, but expansions would depend on additional water availability.

Private resort operators have done it before – and raised hackles in the process – and now a city is looking at filing for whitewater rights in Colorado.

Glenwood Springs Mayor Bruce Christensen said his city is looking into the possibility, as a way of protecting whitewater recreation options at a time when a variety of other kinds of water users are interested in pulling water in other directions.

There is also Glenwood Springs Whitewater Park, “he first man-made whitewater feature built on the entire length of the Colorado River.” And Jason Carey of River Restoration cautioned that heavy water uses including shale oil extraction could strain the water supply in time to come. [see Glenwood Springs [CO] Post independent, December 6.]

The California State Club Association and California Alliance for Golf have asked the Coachella Valley Water District to discuss how the golf industry will continue to thrive in these times of competing demands for water.

A combination of dry conditions, low reservoirs and court rulings has put a squeeze on California’s precious water supplies and triggered the first statewide drought declaration in 16 years. In some areas of the state, this has resulted in water restrictions and rationing. The Coachella Valley is fortunate in that, so far, none of the water purveyors here have had to take such drastic steps. But the golf industry knows that doesn’t mean they can ignore the situation.

While the emphasis of this one-of-a-kind event is on the golf industry’s club managers and superintendents, the symposium promises to be a valuable source of information for all the valley’s stakeholders, including developers, golf course designers, landscape architects, water agencies and anyone interested in the future of water and golf in the Coachella Valley.

The keynote speaker will be Tim Quinn, executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies. He will provide an insightful, statewide perspective on water issues and how they relate to the golf industry. Local insights will be offered by CVWD Board President Peter Nelson.

The diverse list of speakers will be rounded out by representatives from the golf industry and community leaders discussing topics such as: “Las Vegas’ experience with golf and water,” “Golf’s impact on the Coachella Valley economy” and “How golf courses are dealing with water and other environmental issues.”

http://www.cagolf.org/golf-water-symposium.php. Contacts: Dennis Mahr, dmahr@cvwd.org, Ext. 2352; Jack Porrelli, jporrelli@cvwd.org, Ext. 2355; Heather Engel, hengel@cvwd.org, Ext. 2353; www.cvwd.org/news/press.php; www.cvwd.org/news/press_archives.php