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Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District No. 1 agrees to contracts for water rights along the Holbrook Canal

June 14, 2010

The Board of Directors of the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District No. 1 today completed contracts for additional water rights along the Lower Arkansas River.

The district's board approved seven contracts for Holbrook Canal water, representing approximately 800 acre feet of water. This will be added to the 46.6 shares of Rocky Ford Highline that were put under contract by the board during previous meetings.

Woodmoor continues to fill in the pieces of its Renewable Water Plan to move the district away from dependence on Denver Basin aquifer water. On Dec. 30, 2009, Woodmoor filed in Water Court an application for approval of a plan to move water upstream from the lower Arkansas River to the district service area via exchange through a system of storage facilities. At its last meeting, the district contracted for a portion of the Stonewall Springs Reservoir site near Pueblo.

This plan will eventually replace the district's current reliance on Denver Basin aquifers for most of its water. These aquifers for decades have provided plenty of water, but now far too many communities along the Front Range are draining this resource.

Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District No. 1 agrees to contracts for water right and water storage site

Future Stonewall Springs reservoir represents next step in Woodmoor's renewable water system

May 8, 2010

The Board of Directors of the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District No. 1 on May 6, 2010, approved contracts for an additional water right along the Lower Arkansas River and a portion of the Stonewall Springs Storage site near Pueblo.

The district's board approved one contract for 6.6 shares of Rocky Ford Highline, representing approximately 100 acre feet of water in an average year. This will be added to the 40 shares of Rocky Ford Highline that were put under contract by the board on April 8.

Additionally, Woodmoor contracted for a portion of the Stonewall Springs Storage site. Woodmoor is purchasing just over 300 acres downstream of Pueblo along the Arkansas River. Once constructed, this reservoir will allow the district to release stored water rights into the Arkansas River in exchange for diversions out of Pueblo Reservoir or off Fountain Creek near the City of Fountain. The Stonewall Springs site also includes 771 shares of Excelsior Ditch water rights (about 326 acre feet in an average year) to augment other water sources.

Woodmoor continues to fill in the pieces of its Renewable Water Plan to move the district away from dependence on Denver Basin aquifer water. On Dec. 30, 2009, Woodmoor filed in Water Court an application for approval of a plan to move water upstream from the lower Arkansas River to the district service area via exchange through a system of storage facilities.

This plan will eventually replace the district's current reliance on Denver Basin aquifers for most of its water. These aquifers for decades have provided plenty of water, but now far too many communities along the Front Range are draining this resource.

Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District No. 1 agrees to contracts for water rights on Rocky Ford Highline Canal

Water rights represent next step in development of Woodmoor's sustainable water supply system

April 8, 2010

The Board of Directors of the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District No. 1 today held a special meeting to approve contracts for water rights along the Lower Arkansas River.

"Woodmoor Water and Sanitation is dedicated to providing a sustainable and reliable water resource to our current and future customers. This is a responsibility that the district's board and staff take seriously," said board president Benny Nasser.

"Woodmoor long ago began planning for a renewable water system with the acquisition of rights along Monument Creek, development of Woodmoor Lake and construction of a facility to treat surface water," Nasser continued. "These contracts demonstrate that we are moving ahead with our goal of searching for and acquiring dependable water sources."

Today's actions marked the next step in the district's Renewable Water Plan. On Dec. 30, 2009, Woodmoor filed in Water Court an application for approval of a plan to move water upstream from the lower Arkansas River to the district service area via exchange through a system of storage facilities.

This plan will eventually replace Woodmoor's current reliance on Denver Basin aquifers for most of its water. These aquifers for decades have provided plenty of water, but now far too many communities along the Front Range are draining this resource.

The district's board approved three contracts for approximately 41 shares of Rocky Ford Highline, representing approximately 600 acre feet of water in an average year.

"These contracts represent a key next step in the development of Woodmoor's sustainable water supply system," said Jessie Shaffer, district manager. "Overall, the district's Renewable Water Plan will allow us to meet our customer's water demands for many years to come."

FAQs about Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District's Renewable Water Plan

What are the latest water planning decisions at Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District?

On December 30, Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District filed in Water Court an application for approval of a plan to move water upstream from the lower Arkansas River to the district service area via exchange through a system of storage facilities. The district's plan when approved will allow us to meet our water demands for many years to come. It also will be expandable to allow Woodmoor to assist other districts with their water needs.

Why is Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District taking this action?

Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District is dedicated to providing a sustainable and reliable water resource to our current and future customers.

Has something specific happened recently to cause the district to take this step?

For more than 40 years, Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District has depended on Denver Basin aquifers for much of our water. Aquifers are water-bearing geologic formations deep below the earth's surface. These aquifers have provided plenty of water, but Woodmoor believes that far too many communities are tapping them--and this resource simply will not last. Woodmoor will not wait for the wells to run dry to act.

What criteria does Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District use to identify a potential water source?

Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District uses the following four criteria when looking at a water source:

Reliability: Our customers expect water to flow when the faucet turns on, and the district likewise must depend on the water being in place when needed.

Independence: WWSD must have control over how and when any water source can be used.

Sustainability: WWSD must be able to depend on the water flowing from year to year.

Cost: Acquiring and delivering the water source must be appropriate for the district's and our customers' budgets.

Recently, a Pueblo Chieftain editorial labeled WWSD's exchange plan as illegal. Was this an accurate statement by the Chieftain?

The Chieftain's statement is not correct. The application filed by WWSD is consistent with all current legal requirements for an exchange plan. Unlike the other cases referred to in the editorial, WWSD's application is not speculative because WWSD customers are the end users of the water that will be available under the exchange plan.

Is WWSD looking for renewable and sustainable water sources from any other locations than southern Colorado?

Yes. WWSD recently signed a non-binding letter of interest to the Million Resource Conservation Group. The MSCG project is working to convey water from the Green River to Colorado customers along the Front Range both north and south of the Palmer Divide. If successful, the project could supply renewable water to WWSD.

Where can I get additional information about the district's plans?