Aspen Journalism: River District offers proposal on Western Slope water deal – AspenTimes.com

Aspen Journalism: River District offers proposal on Western Slope water deal – AspenTimes.com

 

Report on the Shoshone Water Rights Acquisition and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

This report details the ongoing negotiations and disputes surrounding the Colorado River Water Conservation District’s (River District) proposed acquisition of the Shoshone hydroelectric power plant’s senior water rights. The central conflict involves the quantification of historical water use, pitting the Western Slope’s environmental and agricultural interests against the Front Range’s municipal water supply needs. The resolution of this issue carries significant implications for several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning clean water (SDG 6), clean energy (SDG 7), ecosystem preservation (SDG 15), and institutional governance (SDG 16).

2.0 Project Background and Objectives

2.1 The Acquisition Proposal

The River District, representing 15 Western Slope counties, plans to purchase senior, non-consumptive water rights from Xcel Energy for approximately $100 million. These rights, dating to 1902, are associated with the Shoshone hydroelectric plant.

2.2 Strategic Goals

The primary objective is to convert the water rights for instream flow use. This action is intended to achieve several key outcomes aligned with sustainable development:

  • Environmental Protection: Safeguard downstream river ecosystems and habitats for endangered fish species.
  • Water Security: Ensure reliable water availability for downstream agricultural, municipal, and recreational users on the Western Slope.
  • Economic Stability: Support the local recreation-based economy dependent on healthy river flows.

2.3 Funding and Partnerships

The project demonstrates a multi-stakeholder partnership approach (SDG 17). The River District has secured $57 million from at least 26 partners. A $40 million federal grant from the Inflation Reduction Act is currently frozen by the new administration.

3.0 Core Conflict: Quantification of Historic Water Use

3.1 Disagreement Over Volume

A significant point of contention exists between the River District and the Front Range Water Council, which represents major municipal providers such as Denver Water and Aurora Water.

  1. River District’s Analysis: Estimates the average annual historic use at 844,644 acre-feet, based on the period from 1975 to 2003.
  2. Front Range’s Position: Argues this estimate is flawed, potentially represents an illegal expansion of the water right, and could cause injury to their transmountain diversion systems, which supply approximately 500,000 acre-feet of water annually to eastern Colorado.

3.2 The Role of the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB)

The CWCB is the only entity legally permitted to hold an instream flow right in Colorado. Its participation is mandatory for the project’s success. The Front Range has requested that the CWCB remain neutral in the water court proceedings and defer to the court’s final determination on the water volume, fearing that the CWCB’s co-application would constitute an endorsement of the River District’s contested analysis.

3.3 Proposed Compromise

In an effort to de-escalate the conflict, the River District has proposed that the CWCB formally adopt a neutral position regarding the historical use quantification. However, a formal hearing on the matter is still scheduled for the CWCB’s September meeting.

4.0 Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Shoshone water rights initiative is deeply interconnected with the global agenda for sustainable development.

4.1 SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  • Target 6.5: The conflict highlights the challenges of implementing integrated water resources management, balancing urban, agricultural, and environmental needs across different basins.
  • Target 6.6: The project’s primary goal is to protect and restore water-related ecosystems, directly supporting the preservation of the Colorado River’s ecological health.

4.2 SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  • Target 7.2: The water rights are intrinsically linked to the Shoshone plant’s capacity to generate hydroelectric power, a key source of renewable energy. The outcome will influence the operational future of this clean energy asset.

4.3 SDG 15: Life on Land

  • Target 15.1: Securing instream flows is a direct action to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of freshwater ecosystems.
  • Target 15.5: The project is critical for protecting endangered fish species in the Colorado River, thereby taking urgent action to halt biodiversity loss.

4.4 SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

  • Target 16.6: The dispute tests the effectiveness and accountability of Colorado’s water governance institutions, including the CWCB and the water court system.
  • Target 16.7: The negotiation process, including the compromise offer and the scheduled public hearing, represents an effort to ensure responsive, inclusive, and representative decision-making on a critical shared resource.

4.5 SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.17: The coalition of 26 local and regional partners assembled by the River District exemplifies the multi-stakeholder partnerships necessary to mobilize resources for achieving sustainable development objectives.

5.0 Conclusion and Next Steps

The Shoshone water rights acquisition represents a pivotal moment for water management in Colorado, with profound consequences for environmental sustainability and regional water security. The upcoming CWCB hearing in September will be a critical juncture. The board’s decision on whether to approve the acquisition, and under what conditions, will directly impact the state’s ability to meet its commitments to clean water, ecosystem health, and resilient communities as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are relevant to the article:

  • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The article’s central theme is the management, allocation, and protection of water resources from the Colorado River. It discusses water rights, historical water use, “instream flow” for environmental needs, and conflicts between different water users (Western Slope vs. Front Range), all of which are core components of SDG 6.
  • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The water rights discussed are directly tied to the “Shoshone hydroelectric power plant,” a source of renewable energy. The article mentions its generating capacity (“15 megawatts”) and its role in the regional water system, connecting water management to clean energy production.
  • SDG 15: Life on Land: The article explicitly states that the water rights are “essential for downstream ecosystems, cities, endangered fish.” The proposal to add an “instream flow water right to benefit the environment” directly addresses the protection of freshwater ecosystems, which is a key aspect of SDG 15.
  • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The issue involves a complex negotiation between multiple stakeholders, including the “Colorado River Water Conservation District,” the “Front Range Water Council,” state bodies like the “CWCB,” and private entities like “Xcel Energy.” The article highlights the efforts to create a “compromise proposal” and the collaboration of “at least 26 local and regional partners” to fund the project, exemplifying the multi-stakeholder partnerships essential for achieving sustainable development.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

The article’s content points to the following specific SDG targets:

  1. Target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.

    The entire article is a case study of this target in action. It describes the conflict and negotiation between various water districts (“River District,” “Front Range Water Council”) and a state-level board (“CWCB”) to manage the shared water resources of the Colorado River. The mention of “transmountain diversions” highlights the management of water across different basins.
  2. Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.

    The plan to purchase water rights to establish an “instream flow water right to benefit the environment” is a direct action toward this target. The article notes these flows are “essential for downstream ecosystems” and “endangered fish.”
  3. Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

    The article focuses on the “Shoshone hydroelectric power plant,” a renewable energy source. The discussion revolves around securing the water rights that allow this plant to operate and continue contributing to the energy mix.
  4. Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.

    This target is addressed by the effort to protect river flows. The article states the water rights are “foundational to the Colorado River” and are crucial for maintaining the health of “downstream ecosystems” and supporting “endangered fish.”
  5. Target 17.16: Enhance the multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources.

    The article details a multi-stakeholder process involving government agencies, water districts, and private companies. It also highlights the mobilization of financial resources, noting the River District “has raised $57 million toward the purchase from at least 26 local and regional partners.”

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions or implies several indicators for measuring progress:

  1. Indicator for Target 6.5 (Degree of integrated water resources management): The existence of agreements and formal negotiations between stakeholders serves as a qualitative indicator. The article mentions the “Shoshone Outage Protocol” and the new “compromise proposal” being drafted, which are instruments of integrated management. The dispute itself, and the process to resolve it through the “CWCB,” demonstrates the implementation process.
  2. Indicator for Target 6.6/15.1 (Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time): A key indicator is the legal establishment of an “instream flow water right.” Success in this effort, which would be decided in a “water court,” would be a direct measure of progress in protecting the river’s ecosystem. The volume of water dedicated to this instream flow would be a quantitative measure.
  3. Indicator for Water Use (related to Target 6.4): The article provides specific quantitative data that serves as an indicator of water use. This includes the “average annual use at 844,644 acre-feet” for the Shoshone plant and the “500,000 acre-feet of water annually” diverted to the Front Range. These figures are central to the dispute and are used to measure and manage water allocation.
  4. Indicator for Target 7.2 (Renewable energy share): The generating capacity of the renewable energy facility is a direct indicator. The article specifies that the “twin turbines of Xcel Energy’s Shoshone hydroelectric power plant in Glenwood Canyon can generate 15 megawatts.”
  5. Indicator for Target 17.16 (Number of partnerships): The article provides a quantitative measure of the partnerships involved, stating that the River District has secured funding from “at least 26 local and regional partners” for the water rights purchase.

Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators Identified in the Article
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management.

6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems.

– Existence of management agreements (“Shoshone Outage Protocol,” “compromise proposal”).
– Volume of water use (“844,644 acre-feet” historic use; “500,000 acre-feet” in diversions).
– Establishment of an “instream flow water right to benefit the environment.”
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy. – Renewable energy generation capacity (“15 megawatts” from the hydroelectric plant).
SDG 15: Life on Land 15.1: Ensure the conservation and restoration of inland freshwater ecosystems. – Actions to protect ecosystems and species (securing water rights for “downstream ecosystems” and “endangered fish”).
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals 17.16: Enhance multi-stakeholder partnerships. – Number of partners involved in a project (“at least 26 local and regional partners”).
– Mobilized financial resources (“$57 million” raised by partners).

Source: aspentimes.com