Walsenburg commits to collaborative water storage

by Eric Mullens
WALSENBURG —  At their most recent meeting, the Walsenburg City Council voted to write a letter of intent to the Huerfano County Water Conservancy District (HCWCD) indicating their agreement to join the Cucharas River Storage Collaborative.
The initial meeting of the collaborative was held April 20, and their future plans, according to HCWCD President Michael ‘Sandy’ White, is to develop a grant application, to be submitted in late May, for funding of a basin-wide storage needs assessment and a study to determine the most effective way to meet those storage needs.
“The idea would be to provide a storage vessel large enough to meet all users’ water storage needs,” said city administrator David Johnston.  The thought is to develop the water storage upstream far enough to offset evaporation and serve all users, Johnston said.  
Mayor Jim Eccher said collaborative storage would benefit every dam owner in Huerfano County.  City officials hope it could prevent millions of dollars in future expenditures on city water storage vessels.  Johnston and Eccher said, if the project was funded, the city’s water storage lakes could take on new roles for additional storage and recreational use.  “Anyone who has a storage vessel or water right in Huerfano County could benefit, especially those with junior water rights,” said Eccher.
The action carried a promise to consider a 2016 calendar year budget line item of $5,000 earmarked for participation in the collaborative.