Arguments for and against the Yampa Pumpback

Arguments against the Pumpback:

• The Yampa River is the last, the longest and the largest free flowing, most intact river system remaining in the west, it is the crown jewel of the Upper Colorado River system. This alone should be reason for us to preserve the wild, free flowing characteristic of the Yampa River and not allow a diversion of the level which Denver Northern is proposing.
  • From the PBS "Cadillac Desert" video, spoken by Charles Wilkinson " We want water for our cities and hydropower is important, but so are wild rivers. Wild rivers are important and we feel that as a people and we feel what a river really can be a place of magic, mystery and beauty. And we've made up our mind now that we are going to keep some rivers wild, both for what they can give to us as a people and also to the animals and plants that depend on upon them and also to the ultimate respect to the river itself."
  • Diversion operations would impact flows of the river for an estimated 30% of the year, when river levels are above 1,000 c.f.s
  • The Yampa River's value as a beneficial use to Colorado, the entire Colorado River drainage and our Nation is incalculable. Just as the dinosaurs that give the area its trademarked name, the Yampa is similar as it is a relic of the past, a dinosaur in its own right and deserves to be free flowing forever.
• Preserving flows in the Yampa will protect the integrity of the National Park System
  • There is no place in our National Park System like Dinosaur. The river canyons of Dinosaur are what make this national park and monument unique in this system. By diverting 2,000 c.f.s of water from the system, this river canyon will be affected.
  • Our system of national parks was established to provide for "the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations" The word "unimpaired" is critical here and defined as not to diminish in quantity, value, or strength; not to injure or weaken or make worse; not to harm, hurt, mar, or spoil.
• The Colorado River Compact of 1922
  • This compact is the cornerstone, the "law of the river" in our water use and availability in the Colorado basin. Basically, the compact allows for the entitlement of water use of 7,500,000 acre-feet of water annually (AFY)for both the Upper Basin States (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) and the Lower Basin States (Arizona, California, and Nevada).
  • The Upper Basin must deliver 75,000,000 acre-feet of water to Lees Ferry in any consecutive 10-year period.
  • There is serious debate over the allotted quantification of the Colorado River when it was divided in 1922. According to sources, the river at that time was running during a wet cycle and the flows in the Colorado were over estimated thus we are unsure of how much water should truly be divided between the Upper and Lower Basin state. This question will surely bring rise to much debate in the coming years as drought impacts the entire basin and drives us to continue to examine how much water is being used and how much is available in each of the Basins.
  • Depending on assumptions, Colorado may already be using all of our available Colorado River Compact Water. Erik Kuhn, Colorado River Water Conservation District presentation to the Yampa River Basin Water Forum 2004.
  • Should we therefore divert 300,000 AFY out of the Yampa River when we don't really know what is going to happen to the Colorado River Compact?
  • What will happen if there is a call placed on the Upper Basin by the Lower Basin? Will this mean that the pumpback's waters be returned to the Yampa due to their junior status, and will this not cause those who will be dependent on the diversions water to basically run dry when or if a call is placed?
• The Upper Colorado River Basin Compact of 1948
  • This compact proportions the 7,500,000 acre-feet of water between the Upper Basin States as: Colorado (51.75 percent), New Mexico (11.25 percent), Utah (23 percent) and Wyoming (14 percent).
  • This compact requires Colorado to not cause the flow of the Yampa River at the Maybell gauging station to fall below a total of 5,000,000 acre-feet for any period of 10 consecutive years.
• The Endangered Species Act compliance on the Yampa River and Green River.
  • There are 4 species of native fish in the Yampa River that are listed as endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. They are the humpback chub, boneytail, Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker.
  • Peak flows of the Yampa River are particularly important in creating and maintaining spawning habitats for the endangered fishes in the Yampa River, as well as nursery habitats for Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker in the Middle Green River downstream from the Yampa River Confluence. from the Yampa River Management Plan - executive summary.
  • The significant reduction of peak flows, up to 30% in this case, will inhibit the ability of the river to deliver and remove sediment from the Yampa River, particularly through the Yampa Canyon. The impacts to spawning bars and beaches in Yampa Canyon would be affected by the diversion.
  • Impacts to peak flows from the Yampa are important for habitat rejuvenation at locations within the Monument on the Green River below the confluence of the Yampa. How will the regeneration of Cottonwood forests be affected or on the overall riparian habitat from this diversion?
  • A natural hydrograph is necessary to cue spawning migrations so will the 2,000 c.f.s that is planned for this diversion not inhibit this cue of spawning?
  • Base flows of 93 c.f.s have been identified, but no peak flows are been established for the management of these fish. Management Plan for Endangered Fishes.
  • Here is a list of the Federally listed species that may be affected by the diversion: Bald eagle, mexican spotted owl, southwestern willow flycatcher, mountain plover, colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, humpback chub, boneytail, black-footed ferret, canada lynx, ute ladies'-tresses and the boreal toad.
• Yampa River Programmatic Biological Opinion (PBO) is of a grave concern for the water planners in the Yampa Basin. This opinion derived through a 10-year process issues flow recommendations for the management of the Endangered Fishes recovery in the Yampa and Green River.
  • Many folks in our basin do not wish to see this PBO re-examined. The process was long and hard to develop and will be painfully difficult to re-open in the pursuit of water development for the Front Range.
• Senior water rights upstream and downstream of the proposed diversion point will become over appropriated.
  • The Yampa River is one of the only remaining rivers in Colorado that more or less is under appropriated. Though is isn't really a reality in our water plan for the future, currently this allows our water users to have a less regulated approach to their water usage. The diversion will tie up the river and bring Northwest Colorado under a very tight reign.
• How much water is needed in the Yampa Basin for it's future?
  • Though we are not proponents of the large scale energy boom that is expected to engulf Northwest Colorado, water will be an important requirement for this industry. How much is needed? The Yampa/White Basin Roundtable under HB 1177 is currently reviewing these demands and the Yampa Pumpback is some concern as it will tie-up potential water for this use.
  • It is projected that the Yampa Basin has planned accordingly for it's future municipal and industrial, beyond energy, water demands. There are some interests who have identified additional agricultural lands which could be brought into the system, and there will certainly be a lose of agricultural lands due to development and the dispersal of agricultural lands as development continues.
• Recreational boating is an important element of the Yampa River below the point of diversion and river flows are a very important element to the recreational experience sought after by these enthusiasts.
  • Cross Mountain Canyon and Yampa Canyon are the two major recreational boating, river trips below the diversion point that lie in Colorado. After the confluence with the Green River, the Gates of Ladore, Whirlpool Canyon, Split Mountain Canyon, Desolation and Gray Canyons and finally Cataract Canyon are the river canyons that would also be affected by this diversion.
  • Private and commercial rafting and kayaking are highly sought after in these canyons.
  • Cross Mountain Canyon is a 4-mile whitewater paradise with multiple Class IV and V rapids. Cross Mountain Canyon is one of only a handful of whitewater canyons that remain unaffected by man, with no water diversions, no railroad, no power lines, roads or highways inside or within view of the canyon walls. This canyon has commercial and private rafting and kayaking occurring during the months when it is runnable, typically down to 350 c.f.s
  • Yampa Canyon is one of our most highly sought after, destination, private and commercial boating trips in the world. This 5-7 day rafting trip rewards participants with a life experience unsurpassed in many places in the world.
  • The Yampa/Green river system brings millions of dollars or economic activity to the area. Colorado River Outfitters Executive Summary of Commercial River Use in Colorado, 2006 year end report.
• Important wetlands for riparian habitat and rare species will be affected.
  • The impact of this diversion will, more than likely, affect the wetlands in and along the Yampa River.
  • Yampa/White River Wetland Focus Area Strategy
• Loss of peak flows will allow for the increased encroachment of Tamarisk up the river system.
  • Hydrologic modifications (loss of peak flows) has allowed tamarisk to become established, although it can tolerate a certain amount of flooding. It is not a big problem yet in the Yampa as it is elsewhere but there is potential that this diversion would inhibit the encroachment of Tamarisk.
• Would spending 3-5 Billion dollars in efforts to advance our water ethic in the Front Range, instead of diverting Yampa River water, allow for a more sustainable future in Colorado?
  • Though there will be a need for additional water storage facilities in Colorado, improving conservation and efficiency, and investing more in reuse and water "sharing" between cities and farmers are even higher priorities. From "Facing our Future - A Balanced Water Solution for Colorado" - Trout Unlimited.
  • There is a smarter vision to solving our water problems in Colorado than building a robust, incredibly expensive and debilitating diversion like that being proposed on the Yampa River. Many water agencies and advocacy groups in Colorado have outlined a process which will allow us to develop additional sources of water without having to damage or destroy additional river systems like that of the Yampa River.

This diversion is being proposed for the future of Colorado's Front Range municipal water demands while not allowing for the continued agricultural dry-up to occur, which is forecasted to devastate the agricultural industry of the East slope of Colorado. Though diverting the Yampa River is an opportunity for Colorado to help remove agricultural dry-up from occurring, the loss of the Yampa River as the last, longest and largest free-flowing tributary to the Colorado system should not be an option.

Keeping the Yampa River's peak flows intact is a beneficial use of Colorado's water. Millions of people are expected to add to Colorado's population in the near future and these people will seek out areas and know that in Colorado there are rivers that are untrammeled by man, places where water and nature are working as they did millions of years ago, and opportunities for recreating on rivers that are not harnessed and controlled.

Arguments for the Pumpback:

• Water Quantity - Annually the Yampa River flows an average of 1,130,000 acre feet per year, thus allowing a firm yield potential of 300,000 acre feet per year that this diversion is calling for.
• Water Quality – The Yampa River at the proposed point of diversion has very high quality water that would not require expensive filtration methods that other possible sources would need.
• Water supply needs - Colorado is expected to grow by more than 2.8 million people by the year 2030. Most of these new residents will live along the Front Range. Conservation will play an important role, however new storage projects will be needed and must be pursued. There is an estimated 30% gap of the water that Colorado has and will need for the future. The Yampa River was identified as a potential source to satisfy this gap- State Water Supply Initiative
• We need to protect the agricultural interests of the Front Range - In recent years, agricultural water has been utilized by the growing municipal water demands along the Front Range. Water transfers from agriculture to municipalities, water fallowing, water banking and other sources of converting water rights to the growing municipal demands have been analyzed but complete agricultural dry-up is not a solution. This diversion would provide a resource and alternative to this agricultural dry-up.
• The pumpback operations will not impact endangered fishes - The diversion will only consume 2,000 c.f.s at any given time and by operating the diversion where no water is taken from the Yampa River below 1,000 c.f.s and where the diversion is cut off during peak periods, the diversion will continue to allow the habitat renewal, spawning of and maturation of the endangered fishes.
• Fact sheet from the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District.