GlobeMed and EnAct co-hosted a panel event to discuss an essential global resource: water. Speakers discussed subjects ranging from water management within Colorado Springs Utilities to the water policy that manages the entire Colorado River.
The panel included Phil Kannan, Colorado College professor of environmental law, Brendan Boepple from the State of the Rockies, Brett Gracely from Colorado Springs Utilities, and Doug Wiley from Larga Vista Ranch.
Kannan started off the panel with a discussion of water policy. He argued that water policy is too stagnant and relies heavily on antiquated laws and policies that should no longer be considered valid.
“Water policy is too stable,” said Kannan. “And this is causing all kinds of problems in ecosystems management.”
As an example he cited the Colorado River compact. The agreement was negotiated by the state of Colorado in 1922 and still largely provides the legal structure for the way that water is handled in much of the West.
“This is a three-page document,” Kannan said, holding up a thin packet of paper. “And it shapes the past, present, and future of the Colorado River.”
The compact divides states in the drainage basin into upper and lower basin states, and determines water allocation in accordance. When the agreement was made in 1922, there had been ten years of heavy rainfall. Weather and water patterns have changed since then, but the policies have not.
The agreement stated that there would always be 7.5 million acre-feet (or 7.5 acres worth of foot-deep water) to divide between the seven states involved in the compact.
Kannan’s point is that it is unwise to base a policy that affects so many areas, industries, and lives on the state of affairs almost 100 years ago. “It was arrogant to think that they could make decisions of this magnitude about an essential water resource,” said Kannan.
The panel continued with discussion of research connected to CC and how Colorado Springs’ water resources are handled. Boepple discussed the essential role that the State of the Rockies plays as a research institution.
“Our research is pretty broad, but a lot of it has to do with water,” said Boepple. “A lot of our research has to do with tribal water quality battles and the cultural value of water.”
Given the major outreach component of State of the Rockies research and public polling efforts, the State of the Rockies often contributes valuable information for policy makers to form legislation. For instance, State of the Rockies research on low levels of snowpack and the suffering of water supplies has contributed significantly to public knowledge and legislative development.
Gracely of Colorado Springs Utilities discussed the role that it plays in water dynamics. Colorado Springs Utilities has 15 employees who work on a five- to fifty-year time horizon.
“Everyone works from the cloud to the reservoir,” said Gracely. Although they are deeply involved in Colorado Springs water, Colorado Springs Utilities deals more with external than internal details.
“We work with our back to the community and our face to the rest of the world,” said Gracely. “The overall goal is to keep the reservoirs full.”
Anna Kelly
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