great american rivers like the colorado
provide power recreation food and water
to people and wildlife but when demand
outpaces supply and drought hits rivers
are threatened the Colorado River Basin
has suffered really badly from this
drought there’s been very little snow
pack this year way below normal levels
and the snowpack is what drives most of
the flow in the river in the Colorado
River Basin in response to the drought
the Colorado Water trust proposed an
innovative method for restoring water to
the state’s rivers a drought lease
program that asked water users to loan
water to rivers in need we look at the
lease as an opportunity for us to find
willing participants in the program and
match them up with rivers responding to
the call was the upper yaple water
district in Steamboat Springs where the
area’s world-famous snow feeds the town
center piece the yampa river upstream
from the city the stagecoach reservoir
can augment the rivers flow and during
this difficult year the owners offered
to lease some water supported in part by
funding from National Geographic and the
Bonneville environmental foundation the
drought lease was purchased in june the
drought least was something that
everyone was happy with our board was
happy to put the water under contract
and to release the water to the river
and the river certainly benefited by the
release of the water throughout the
summer the reservoir continually
released water into the river and kept
the Yampa flowing at healthier levels
so striking that deal at the appropriate
time and getting that water back into
the river was critical to preventing an
ecological crash in the river critical
to making sure the fish populations
didn’t crash both native and introduced
fish populations occupy the yampa river
system and for aquatic biologist Bill
Atkinson drought years pose special
challenges bill must monitor the river
frequently checking conditions if low
water levels result in conditions
stressful to the fish tubing and even
fly fishing could be shut down to
protect them of greatest concern are the
native mountain whitefish negatively
impacted by a 2002 drought critically
low flow levels could do further damage
to the population bill also manages the
introduced brown and rainbow trout
populations which support a robust sport
fishing industry in Steamboat Springs at
look at the native fish component like
the white fish but along with that I
also have a created sport fishery that I
sustained through a stocky regiment
the spectacular Valley setting provides
a peaceful retreat for fly fishermen
you
and during the quiet times on the river
might be lucky enough to observe other
native Fisher’s
another stretch of the river groups of
fun seekers ride the water on tubes or
the more adventurous in kayaks in late
June low flows force tubing operators to
close business but the increased water
from the lease help them reopen sooner
and get revenues flowing again
travelling down through the middle of
town enjoying a day on the river you
will also pass through farm country a
mainstay of this valleys economy a
drought year brings difficult choices to
farmers lightly Kirby who may not be
able to support their cattle or crops in
these tough times i would say we’re down
around thirty or forty percent of what
we would normally produce even though
Kirby’s ranch is located beyond the
intended reach of the lease his farm
still received enough additional water
to harvest a late season 8 crop and
during a hard year this was a helpful
economic boost
the scientists warn that drought years
will become more common in the West we
need innovative approaches to fresh
water management this was a really
important lease at the right time and
what I love about it is it’s is really
showing adaptability and that we can be
resilient during these times of drought
make sure that the river is not the last
in line to get help during a time of
drought the lease purchase demonstrates
new possibilities to balance the needs
of humans and the health of our vital
river systems it’s just one example of
how people are working together to save
the life-giving waters of America’s
great river systems
you
provide power recreation food and water
to people and wildlife but when demand
outpaces supply and drought hits rivers
are threatened the Colorado River Basin
has suffered really badly from this
drought there’s been very little snow
pack this year way below normal levels
and the snowpack is what drives most of
the flow in the river in the Colorado
River Basin in response to the drought
the Colorado Water trust proposed an
innovative method for restoring water to
the state’s rivers a drought lease
program that asked water users to loan
water to rivers in need we look at the
lease as an opportunity for us to find
willing participants in the program and
match them up with rivers responding to
the call was the upper yaple water
district in Steamboat Springs where the
area’s world-famous snow feeds the town
center piece the yampa river upstream
from the city the stagecoach reservoir
can augment the rivers flow and during
this difficult year the owners offered
to lease some water supported in part by
funding from National Geographic and the
Bonneville environmental foundation the
drought lease was purchased in june the
drought least was something that
everyone was happy with our board was
happy to put the water under contract
and to release the water to the river
and the river certainly benefited by the
release of the water throughout the
summer the reservoir continually
released water into the river and kept
the Yampa flowing at healthier levels
so striking that deal at the appropriate
time and getting that water back into
the river was critical to preventing an
ecological crash in the river critical
to making sure the fish populations
didn’t crash both native and introduced
fish populations occupy the yampa river
system and for aquatic biologist Bill
Atkinson drought years pose special
challenges bill must monitor the river
frequently checking conditions if low
water levels result in conditions
stressful to the fish tubing and even
fly fishing could be shut down to
protect them of greatest concern are the
native mountain whitefish negatively
impacted by a 2002 drought critically
low flow levels could do further damage
to the population bill also manages the
introduced brown and rainbow trout
populations which support a robust sport
fishing industry in Steamboat Springs at
look at the native fish component like
the white fish but along with that I
also have a created sport fishery that I
sustained through a stocky regiment
the spectacular Valley setting provides
a peaceful retreat for fly fishermen
you
and during the quiet times on the river
might be lucky enough to observe other
native Fisher’s
another stretch of the river groups of
fun seekers ride the water on tubes or
the more adventurous in kayaks in late
June low flows force tubing operators to
close business but the increased water
from the lease help them reopen sooner
and get revenues flowing again
travelling down through the middle of
town enjoying a day on the river you
will also pass through farm country a
mainstay of this valleys economy a
drought year brings difficult choices to
farmers lightly Kirby who may not be
able to support their cattle or crops in
these tough times i would say we’re down
around thirty or forty percent of what
we would normally produce even though
Kirby’s ranch is located beyond the
intended reach of the lease his farm
still received enough additional water
to harvest a late season 8 crop and
during a hard year this was a helpful
economic boost
the scientists warn that drought years
will become more common in the West we
need innovative approaches to fresh
water management this was a really
important lease at the right time and
what I love about it is it’s is really
showing adaptability and that we can be
resilient during these times of drought
make sure that the river is not the last
in line to get help during a time of
drought the lease purchase demonstrates
new possibilities to balance the needs
of humans and the health of our vital
river systems it’s just one example of
how people are working together to save
the life-giving waters of America’s
great river systems
you
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