Water situation could go downhill

Despite a soaker season in the mountains, Colorado Springs residents shouldn't plan to go crazy with the garden hose this summer.

"It's absolutely critical we maintain that commitment to conservation," Colorado Springs Utilities spokesman Steve Berry said Wednesday.

"As quickly as we can be in a good situation, we can be in a bad situation," he said. "We can't risk not reminding our community that we're in a semiarid climate."

Berry's comments came after principle engineer Kevin Lusk, who keeps tabs on reservoir storage, gave the year's first water outlook report to the Utilities Board, composed of the City Council.

He said most of the state, including the mountain areas that yield the city's water supply, isn't in a drought as determined by water experts.

That's a relief after dry conditions forced water restrictions in 2002 and thereafter. Though the city no longer dic- tates how much or when water can be used, block rates adopted in 2006, which charge more depending on usage, remain in place.

"We're in a very good place coming into the run-off season," Lusk said.

He reported the city's systemwide reservoir level, which includes Pikes Peak and transmountain sources, stood at 75 percent Monday, compared with a 34-year average of 62 percent.

He said transmountain systems' snowpack ranged from 117 percent of normal in the Upper Colorado Headwaters, a chief source for the Springs, to 159 percent in the Arkansas River basin, another source.

Lusk said the city-owned utility likely will be in a position to sell excess water. Problem is, the statewide snowpack of 125 percent of normal might mean nobody will be buying.

He said the city has injected about 1,000 acre feet of water into the Denver Basin groundwater aquifer. He said the utility would store more or sell it to other groundwaterreliant users if facilities existed to enable it to do so.

The outlook for run-off is so optimistic that it's possible the Arkansas River could achieve "free river" status this summer. That's when all water commitments are fulfilled and water is left over for the taking, with permission of the state water engineer.

Vice Mayor Larry Small said this year's expected abundant water supply is a good argument for expanding storage capacity in Pueblo Reservoir, a proposal mired in politics.

"I hope some of those who take exception with that philosophy take note of that (lack of storage capacity) this year," he said.

Said Lusk, "If we had that space, this water could be stored. We will be storing and filling everything that we possibly can."

Pueblo Reservoir is nearly at capacity, Lusk said.

John Martin Reservoir west of Lamar, which can hold 355,000 acre feet but now has 66,000 acre feet, could also reach capacity this spring and summer, Lusk said.

"Once John Martin fills, you could see a free river," he said. Lusk estimated the last time the Arkansas was in freeriver status was about 1997.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0238 or pam.zubeck@gazette.com