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“The Value of Snow,” the first of three short films will be released in summer 2024. Each of the three films intends to educate the public in understanding our watershed and the future of our water supply. All water uses – environmental, agricultural, re recreational, industrial, and municipal – are considered. The health of our community’s economy  is directly dependent on the health of our watershed.

Southwest Basin Roundtable funded San Juan Water Conservancy District (SJWCD) to create three educational short films in 2024.  Professional film maker, Christi Bode of Moxiecran Media, is scripting and shooting “This is Your Watershed: Upper San Juan River.” Collaboration with other water organizations and stakeholders is expected to enrich our understanding of our San Juan River home.

Quantitative and qualitative data, collected across decades, that explains water supply and needs will be included. Risk management and Colorado compact compliance requirements will be incorporated into explanations of all water uses – environmental, recreational, agricultural, industrial, and municipal.

The creation of the informative films are part of SJWCD’s Strategic Plan to educate the community about the water resources of the Upper San Juan River Basin and related issues, including climate change, future water needs, water resource planning, water conservation, and the work of the SJWCD.

Click on the link below to see a graphic of all five Water Rights of SJWCD. The image includes:

Dry Gulch Reservoir (1967) 6,300 Acre Feet (AF), conditional

Dry Gulch Reservoir (2004) 4,700 AF first fill, 11,000 AF refill, conditional

Dry Gulch Pumping Station, 50 Cubic Feet Per Second (cfs), conditional

Park Ditch, 11 shares, 1.1 cfs, absolute

Dutton Ditch Second Enlargement, 20 cfs, conditional

20231012 SJCWD Water Rights Tabulation

Upper San Juan Watershed Enhancement Partnership (WEP) announced to SJWCD at our Special Meeting in November that funding had been received for the collaborative Pagosa Gateway Project. SJWCD funds WEP and supports its activities in the San Juan River watershed.

The Town of Pagosa Springs announced in its January 2024 newsletter that a contract with FlyWater, Inc. had been approved to achieve the construction of the Gateway project. (https://www.flywater.com)

WEP recently commissioned a Non-consumptive Water Needs Assessment from Lotic Hydrological (https://lotichydrological.com) in Carbondale, Colorado. The in-depth water study was used at all stages of the planning process for the Gateway Project. Link here to Lotic’s Non-consumptive Water Needs Assessment. Lotic_WEP_PhaseII_Report_&_Appendices

The Pagosa Gateway Project will construct a series of interventions to improve an approximately 2.1 mile section of the San Juan River, just upstream from the Town of Pagosa Springs and downstream from Running Iron Ranch. (The Running Iron Ranch is jointly owned by San Juan Water Conservancy District, Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District, and Colorado Water Conservation Board.) The project will address the negative impacts of decreasing stream flow on the aquatic habitat and is approved by all affected landowners. The well-researched project is designed to improve the river’s resilience in the face of climate change. All non-consumptive water uses are being considered, like the environmental needs of the river and recreational needs of the community.

According to the Town of Pagosa Springs, “project design is expected to be about 60% complete by summer 2024.” Summer design work will continue, allowing for additional fieldwork and study of environmental and cultural impacts. Construction will begin in fall 2024. Completion is expected in fall 2025.

WEP’s funding goal, $1,246,160, was reached with support from the US Bureau of Reclamation, Town of Pagosa Springs, Trout Unlimited, Southwestern Water Conservation District, The Nature Conservancy, Pagosa Tourism Board, San Juan Water Conservancy District, Friends of the Upper San Juan, and Colorado Water Conservation Board.

WIP keeps water organizations connected and educates all ages about our most vital resource – water. https://waterinfo.org/