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The long concrete boat ramp at Yamcolo Reservoir is normally mostly underwater in early summer, but this dry year, the ramp never opened. Shown July 3, the bottom of the ramp is already about 60 yards distant from the water level. Photo by Suzie Romig
Recreating on reservoirs or camping near a picturesque lake this summer in a time of extreme drought in Northwest Colorado may require more forethought than a glance at a map. Multiple agricultural use reservoirs in and near Routt County have already dropped to extremely low levels much earlier than in past years.
Local water officials say some key agricultural-use reservoirs, such as Stillwater Reservoir, which serves South Routt County ranchers, only filled to 34% of its acre-feet capacity this year. In other words, the reservoir started the summer as low as it normally is in the fall following the irrigation season, said Andi Schaffner, secretary for reservoir owner Bear River Reservoir Co. Schaffner, a Yampa resident, said 129-acr
All of the water in Yamcolo Reservoir near the Flat Tops Wilderness Area is used in Routt County. Seen here on May 28, the reservoir is significantly lower now and has run out of water for agricultural users. (Photo by Dylan Anderson)
In Colorado, much of the water is already spoken for, and it’s been that way for years. In these over-appropriated basins, water is put under administration to ensure senior water rights holders are getting the water they are owed.
In the Yampa River Basin, water management has generally been easier than in other parts of the state, said Andy Rossi, general manager of the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District, in a presentation to the Board of Routt County Commissioners on Monday.
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