With record-low snowpack and ongoing drought conditions across Colorado, the Allocation and Storage Committee of the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District has voted to recommend no Fryingpan-Arkansas Project water allocation this year.
If approved, 62 municipalities and 44 ditch companies will go without allocated Fry-Ark water. Officials say this would mark only the second time in the past 54 years that no Fry-Ark allocation has been made.
During a recent meeting of the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District board, Projects Manager Gracy Goodwin reported the district currently has 6,927 acre-feet of water stored in various reservoirs.
Goodwin also reported that Salida currently has 174 acre-feet of water in storage and noted that the Upper Ark District is “better positioned than most” to manage current drought conditions.
