GUNNISON RIVER BASIN SELENIUM TASK FORCE
MEETING
MINUTES
April 29, 2004, 10:00
a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Delta Montrose Electric
Association, 11925 6300 Road, Montrose, Colorado
Facilitator: Tom
Peltier, Acting Gunnison River Basin Selenium Task Force Coordinator
1. Introductions: Rick Krueger (USFWS),
Robert Johnson (Town of Paonia), Fred Fisher (SCD, Farmer), Dave Dearstyne
(NRCS), Tom Grett (Shavano CD/Farmer), Dave Kanzer (CRWCD), Aung Hla (CSU Extension), Ed Page (CSU
Extension), Randy See (Western Colorado Congress), Wayne Cooley (CSU
Cooperative Extension, Tri-River Area), Mike Baker (USBOR), Rick Isom (Painted
Sky RC&D), Marc Catlin (UVWUA), Bob Borchardt (DCI), Andy Mitchell (City of
Delta), Steve Simianer (City of Delta), Jan McCracken (Delta County Commissioner),
Larry Davidson (Property Owner), Jeri Omernik (RMMC)
Steering/Technical
Committee Meeting
2. Update on Tasks
and Assignments From March Meeting (Mike Baker):
During the previous meeting, the group “brainstormed” ideas for
Objectives, Tasks and Responsibilities for addressing selenium loading to the
Gunnison River. Mike incorporated these
ideas into an “Action Plan,” which identified five objectives: Continue Piping
Irrigation Laterals; Implement Non-agricultural Best Management Practices; Encourage
On-farm Efficiency Improvements in High Selenium Loading Areas; Increase Use of
Soils Information, and Consider Effects of Changing Land Use. Two additional objectives, Support Water
Conservation Programs, and Conduct Outreach to the Public, were identified
during the meeting. As an initial
priority, the group needs to shift its focus to promoting water
conservation. Mike will revise the
Action Plan to incorporate comments received during the meeting. These revisions will include adding columns
to indicate Task Priority, and Assigned lead and Participants. The next technical meeting will focus on
ironing out the details of the Action Plan and actions necessary to coordinate
with other groups that are working on water conservation. Group participants suggested holding a
workshop and inviting County Commissioners to encourage more involvement in
water conservation. Fred Fisher offered
to contribute funds from the Plant Grant to bring e to encourage more involvement
in water conservation. Fred Fisher
offered to contribute funds from the Plant Grant to hire experts to speak at
the workshop. Dave Kanzer offered the
services of the River District’s outreach person to assist in this effort. The workshop will be the second major
priority for the group and will likely be scheduled sometime during this fall
or winter. This effort could also be
combined with activities of the Grand Valley group, though not necessarily at
the same workshop.
3. Other
Activities
(Group): The group discussed whether grant requests should include the use of
pressurized piping. Marc Catlin
indicated that the UVWUA's grant application is designed to be able to convert
to pressurized pipe and that no system upgrades would be necessary to convert
to sprinkler irrigation. The Association
considers future changes during the design phase to allow for maximum
flexibility but they can not dictate irrigation practices. Demonstration projects showing the benefits
of sprinkler irrigation would be a good way to encourage conservation, but
funding for these demonstration projects is an issue. CSU Extension will be hosting a Field Day in Mid July at the
Meaker ranch and two other projects.
The Phyto-remediation Grant is winding nearing completion and Fred
Fisher is currently working on report for this program. USGS staff have been investigating
infiltration rates for ponds in the area.
This study includes consideration of potential benefits from lining and
compacting pond bottoms. The report is
expected to be completed in May. The group
also considered the need for monitoring in relation major river stations and
specific monitoring for projects like the Montrose Arroyo lining project and
others. There is concern about how long
monitoring needs to be done before projects are implemented to establish
baseline conditions, and how long monitoring needs to be conducted after a
project is completed. Participants
suggested two to three years of baseline data prior to project implementation
would be appropriate. There needs to be
a distinction between monitoring of specific projects and more general water
quality monitoring, such as that being conducted by the government at the
Whitewater monitoring station.
Participants expressed concern that the results of monitoring at
Whitewater may not be representative of progress because the situation at
Devil's Thumb Golf Course could possibly outweigh progress from specific
projects. The group also discussed the
work the USGS is planning to evaluate baseline conditions prior to construction
of a new development in the Whitewater area, and the status of the Geographical
Information System currently being developed by the River District. In general, the group’s priorities are to
focus on canal lining, outreach and education, and finding sources of funding
for projects. It was noted that the
Grand Valley Selenium Task Force cannot apply for grant funding because the
group does not have agency status; grant funding will need to be pursued by
participating agencies.
Gunnison River Basin
Selenium Task Force Meeting
4. Report from
Steering Committee
(facilitator, group): The Task Force was provided a brief update on the above
discussion from the Steering Committee Meeting, with particular emphasis on the
planned workshop.
5. Update on
Hiring New Coordinator (facilitator, Rick Isom):
Members of the group who were not already aware were informed that Sonja
Chavez de Baca has been hired as the new coordinator for the Task Force. Tom thanked members of the group for working
with him during the previous few months and indicated he would endeavor to make
the transition as smooth as possible.
Members of the group indicated that it would be advisable to conduct a
meeting with Sonja prior to the next meeting to assist with this
transition. The Steering Committee will
be working with Sonja to provide guidance and direction.
6. Update on
Lobbying Effort for Selenium Research Funds (facilitator, group): The group was informed that there is an
on-going lobbying effort by members of the Grand Valley group and others, who
have been working with Ben Nighthorse Campbell’s office to seek federal funding
for a five-year statewide study of selenium.
This effort was prompted after the development of this year’s 303(d)
list, which identified 30% of river segments (90% of river miles) in the state
are impacted by excessive levels of selenium, in addition to other
contaminants. The group is requesting
$2,000,000 per year for five years, a total of $10,000,000, to support this
effort. The focus of the investigations
would be to determine whether the selenium sources are natural or human
induced, what can be done about the problem, and what studies would need to be
conducted to support site specific standards for selenium. It appears unlikely that the funding request
will be granted for the 2005 fiscal year, but it may be considered for the
following fiscal year.
7. Off Agenda
Discussion of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) (group) Members of the group noted that the State
Department of Public Health and Environment is reportedly developing a TMDL for
selenium in the Gunnison River. It was
noted that the City of Colorado Springs is developing a "plan" that
may be relevant to this group. Members
of the group will obtain a copy of the plan and circulate it to the group.
8. Best Management
Practices for Golf Courses (Aung Hla): Aung provided an update on his development of
BMPs for golf courses. BMPs should be
addressed during the planning and design phase of golf course development. When designing a golf course planners should
take into account turf selection, irrigation system selection, water
management, soils information, and other BMPs.
9. Landowner’s Manual
CD (Jeri
Omernik): Ms Omernik has developed a compact disk, which contains over 2200
pages of documents from basic water and soil data to information about water
rights and various local agencies and entities involved in the area. This Landowner’s CD was developed as a
reference tool to assist new homeowners, particularly those on small acreages,
in developing their property in an appropriate manner so that they can avoid
making decisions that will result in future problems for themselves and
others. The CD will be available in the
near future and is expected to sell for approximately $10-15. Fred Fisher recently revised the selenium
statement for the CD.
10. Devils Thumb
Golf Course Update
(facilitator): A subcommittee of the
Gunnison River Basin Selenium Task Force has been working with staff from the
City of Delta to address the issue of leaking ponds at the golf course. The subcommittee met on April 15th
to discuss the issue. The group
identified the need to first develop a water budget for the golf course to
determine how much water is being used at the golf course and where it is
going. A letter was sent from the
Colorado Water Conservation Board requesting the Bureau’s help using Technical
Assistance to States program funding.
The subcommittee will schedule its next meeting after the water budget
has been completed.
11. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned
at 3:00