OLATHE — Water engineer Bob Hurford frequently illustrates the dire state of water conditions in the Gunnison River Basin with a compelling chart.
This chart reveals that, so far in the 2020s, the basin’s runoff is proving to be worse than that experienced during the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s.
Hurford, who serves as the Colorado Division of Water Resources division engineer for the Gunnison River area, presents this distressing data to various communities in the region.
The extensive western Colorado river basin encompasses mountainous areas, agricultural regions, and communities such as Crested Butte, Gunnison, Paonia, Montrose, Olathe, and Delta.
Although the snowpack in the basin was near normal this year according to three decades of data, a longer historical perspective reveals a much bleaker outlook.
Local farmers have expressed concerns, emphasizing that nearly-average snowpack does not guarantee sufficient water flow for their crops, including corn, onions, and alfalfa during the summer months.
David Harold, who represents Tuxedo Corn Company, Colorado’s largest sweet corn producer, reflected on the mixed messages he received from water management officials earlier this year.
In March, he recalled being told that conditions would stabilize, but he felt otherwise.
The mountain snowpack in the Gunnison River Basin peaked at 93% in late March before experiencing slight fluctuations and finally settling at 84% of the median, based on federal data from 1991 to 2020.
The basin consists of smaller watersheds including the Upper Gunnison, Uncompahgre, and North Fork basins.
In the Uncompahgre Valley, where Harold farms, the snowpack also peaked at just below normal levels, with projections for spring runoff in the vicinity of 70% of the average.
Feeling apprehensive about the season’s forecast, Harold mentioned that his friends who went snowmobiling reported a concerning lack of snow in the lower elevations.
By February, Harold’s own fields indicated 30% less moisture than typical levels.
“This is not going to be an easy water year,” he reflected on March’s outlook.
### Current Vs. Historical Runoff Trends
Bob Hurford has been investigating the alarming water trends in the basin.
He utilized a gauge that has tracked the flow of the Gunnison River for a century, located near Whitewater, just south of Grand Junction.
His analysis reveals that, while the 2020s are not yet concluding, the average water runoff for this decade sits around 1.25 million acre-feet per year.
This is significantly lower than the average runoff of over 1.5 million acre-feet per year during the 1930s, a period often referred to as the “Dirty Thirties.”
One acre-foot of water is approximately equivalent to the annual water use of two to three households.
Those notorious “Dirty Thirties” were characterized by extensive dust storms and severe drought across eastern Colorado and parts of the Great Plains, affecting states like Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska.
These calamities stemmed from a combination of global economic factors, shifts in federal land policies, environmental changes, and poor land management practices, leading to an environmental disaster and a significant decline in agricultural productivity.
Today, the circumstances in the Gunnison River Basin differ markedly.
The area is home to several major federal reservoirs and water projects developed by the Bureau of Reclamation, whose mission includes managing water resources in the West.
Major projects such as Blue Mesa, Colorado’s largest reservoir, Morrow Dam, and Crystal Dam were federally approved in the 1950s, and Ridgway Dam was built on the Uncompahgre River in 1987.
These reservoirs help regulate water flow from melting snow, ensuring that water supplies remain available throughout the agricultural season.
However, Hurford cautioned that this infrastructure may encourage a false sense of security regarding water availability.
“We’re fortunate to have these projects, and they are effective, but they can create an illusion that we will always have enough water,” he remarked.
He added that such systems might not be sufficient to cope with consecutive bad water years.
### Rising Tensions Among Farmers
Adding to the challenges faced by the agricultural community, the region is experiencing over 20 years of severe drought, which some researchers refer to as a megadrought.
Research indicates that the extreme hot and dry conditions since the year 2000 have contributed to the driest 22-year period on record, a span dating back 1,200 years.
Farmers and ranchers, like David Harold, constantly find themselves under stress while monitoring their water outlook closely.
Harold relies on the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association for his water supply — this association manages the Uncompahgre Valley Project, which was the first large federal irrigation project approved under the Reclamation Act back in 1903.
This project channels water from the Gunnison River through the historic Gunnison Tunnel to support agricultural activity in the Uncompahgre Valley.
Without this crucial water supply, Hurford emphasized, the Uncompahgre Valley would struggle to maintain its status as an economic hub within the region.
Steve Pope, manager of the water users association, confirmed that they are currently operating with a constrained water budget.
While Ridgway Reservoir is expected to reach capacity, the overall water situation will largely depend on summer temperatures, monsoon rains, and the duration of runoff season.
“We’re meeting our needs and have a bit of financial buffer, but we’re uncertain about the immediate future,” said Pope.
The prevailing uncertainty exacerbates concerns among farmers, who claim they are not receiving equitable water shares from the association.
Approximately 20 farmers allege that the association’s board prioritizes certain users during both dry and wet years, resulting in some farmers receiving ample water while neighbors go without.
This dissatisfaction has led them to file official complaints, hire legal counsel, and seek assistance from their Congressional representative, according to James Eklund, their attorney and former director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board.
Eklund pointed out, “It stings more during challenging years like this when the weather is hot, dry, and windy, and you’re left with little water in your canal.”
Pope maintained that the association is committed to providing consistent water distribution to all shareholders but refrained from commenting further.
The ongoing dialogue surrounding water management in the Gunnison River Basin remains crucial as the community braces itself for continued challenges in the years ahead.
image source from：coloradosun
