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The Nine Basins Bulletin is the newsletter from the Southwestern Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Water Information Program (WIP), a summary of the latest updates from southwest Colorado. In this email forum, we want to raise awareness, engagement, and coordination among our nine distinct watersheds—and share our successes with the state. It’s for you. Send your updates, jobs, and events to lauras@swwcd.org.

Vote for the newsletter name here!

What would you like your newsletter to be called? We received a few great submissions, but it’s too hard to decide! Vote for your favorite newsletter name or submit your own idea. The winning submission receives free admission to the 2023 seminar and kudos in a future edition.

Missed the Southwest Water Seminar?

Photo credit: Jim Mimiaga, Cortez Journal

It’s okay: the Durango Herald and Cortez Journal have you covered:

Water seminar asks what prolonged drought means for southwest CO

Tribes assert water rights on Colorado River Basin

For ranchers, adjusting to drought requires innovation, planning

Thank you to the 170 people who attended the 38th Southwest Water Seminar in person and online! Check back soon—speaker presentation PDFs (and videos) will be posted on SWCD’s website in the coming weeks.

Meet SWCD’s Newest Board Member

Kenny Heldman was appointed to the SWCD Board of Directors by Montrose County. Director Heldman was born and raised on a small ranch southeast of Norwood.

He is a shareholder in the Colorado Cooperative Ditch Company in Nucla and the Farmers Water Development Company in Norwood, represents Montrose County Municipalities on the Southwest Basins Roundtable, and co-chairs the San Miguel Stakeholder Group, which has developed their basin’s stream management plan.

Director Heldman replaces Monte Naslund who served as Montrose County’s representative for 20 years. The SWCD board passed a resolution recognizing Director Naslund at their March meeting.

In 2021, Dagan Chadd also joined the board representing Dolores County and Amy Huff representing La Plata County. Read more about them here.

“It’s like squeezing blood from a turnip.”

— Ken Curtis, DWCD general manager, succinctly explains the current challenge for water managers while reacting to the graphic below, which was presented by Division 7 Engineer Rob Genualdi at a Southwestern Water Conservation District board meeting. Click on the map for a closer look.

Attorney and Former Water Referee to Lead April 22nd “Water Law in a Nutshell”

Taught by Mr. Aaron Clay, Attorney at Law and former 26-year Water Referee for the Colorado Water Court, Division 4, Water Law in a Nutshell is great opportunity to learn in an online setting about aspects of the law related to water and ditch rights in Colorado.

Subject matter includes the appropriation, perfection, use, limitations, attributes, abandonment, and enforcement of various types of water rights. Mr. Clay will also review special rules for groundwater, public rights in appropriated water, interstate compacts, among other topics.

We welcome everyone—from anywhere in Colorado—including landowners, realtors, lawyers, water district employees, and others interested in water law. Even if you have done this course before, it is a great refresher as there is so much information to absorb.

Friday, April 22, 2022 9am - 1pm

Virtual Course Taught Live!

Registration is $40.00, which includes a link to the Citizen’s Guide to Colorado Water Law, Citizen’s Guide to Interstate Compacts, and other course materials mailed directly to you. Pay $60.00 total to receive continuing education credits for realtors or attorneys (4 hours). Details and Zoom link will be sent directly to you.

Pre-registration is required. Register early as this workshop is sure to sell out!

Register for Water Law in a Nutshell

Across the basins

Here’s more news from southwest Colorado’s nine basins:

Southwest CO lost a water champion in John Ott: producer, former Animas Water Company manager, Water Quality Control Commissioner, Bonita Peak CAG member, and Roundtable member.

Dolores Project featured in the Colorado Sun: “Punished by Drought”

San Miguel Watershed Coalition releases “Restoration Study” which identifies restoration objectives and actions. Comments welcome!

Get 35% off your rain barrels with regional non-profit 4CORE’s group buy, deadline May 1st.

Check out the recent document that describes local climate and hydrologic changes: Trends in Temperature, Precipitation, and Stream Runoff in the San Juan Mountains: 2000-2021.

Interior Department may limit Lake Powell water releases to protect infrastructure, hydropower production

Family Farm Alliance recently released a new policy statement on the Colorado River and published a guest editorial from its president Pat O’Toole with an associated report.

Saving water one phreatophyte at a time

Since 2019, Montezuma County Noxious Weed Department has removed 34,696 Russian olives, 18,874 saltcedars, and has treated around 8,500 sprouts—which their manager Bonnie Loving calculates at 450 acre-feet of potential water savings. Removing non-native phreatophytes also improves wildlife habitat, soil health, water quality, and access to waterways. Watch their video and learn more here.

Water Info Program Partner Spotlight

Left to right: Sensa Wolcott, Neva Connolly, and Gretchen Rank

Meet Sensa Wolcott and Neva Connolly! They are a big part of a local success story—small organizations leveraging their common water goals to expand their impact, all while offering competitive positions in a saturated job market. Read the full story here.

The Mancos Conservation District and High Desert Conservation District are two of 30 local partners that support the Water Information Program, providing balanced water educational programs and content in southwest Colorado.

Job Opportunities

Florida Consolidated Ditch Company is seeking an Operations Manager!

Don’t miss this opportunity to manage a historic ditch system in southwest Colorado: the Florida Ditches have 352 shareholders serving 18,700 acres of irrigated agriculture.

As Operations Manager, you would communicate with shareholders, maintain the ditch, manage personnel, and work with contractors, equipment operators, and government officials. It’s full-time during the summer irrigation season with the ability to work part-time in the offseason. Read the full job posting here.

La Plata Electric Association: lpea.coop/jobs

CSU Extension: 22 Rural Specialists, Deadline May 1st

San Juan Mountains Association: Several Positions (Durango, Pagosa, Norwood)

Four Corners Resource Management Program: Apprenticeships (Durango, Pagosa Springs)

Mountain Studies Institute: Several Positions

Water Education Colorado: Membership & Engagement

SGM: Many Employment Opportunities

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