Lower Ark Receives Dire Snow Pack Report

~Norman L. Kincaide

After the Pledge of Allegiance, Lower Arkansas Water Conservancy District came to order at 10:30 A.M. February 25, 2026. After a quorum was established, the board recessed to the Enterprise meeting to approve routine items, which were moved, seconded and passed. The Enterprise meeting adjourned and the regular board meeting reconvened. Visitors were introduced and routine items moved, seconded, and approved. There were no committee or legal reports.

Under General Manager’s Reports, Steve Rodriguez, Fountain Creek Water District (FCWD) gave a presentation via Zoom on the Barr Farm Creek Restoration and Maintenance Projects, located approximately one mile south of the Pinon Bridge in Pueblo County. Restoration was implemented to stabilize approximately two miles of Fountain Creek following significant bank erosion and channel migration caused by multiple flood events, including a peak flow of 18,900 cubic feet per second (cfs) in 1999. These events encroached into productive farmland and degraded the riparian corridor.

Using geomorphic design principles and hydraulic modeling, the project restored channel stability while enhancing riparian habitat and reducing long-term sediment loading to Fountain Creek. The restoration project was completed in June of 2020. Both the Project Effectiveness Study and Lessons Learned Study pointed to some issues at the top of the project that were threatening to unravel this $10 million investment. During 2025 field inspections and drone imagery reviews indicated the northern end of the Barr Farm site was a priority maintenance concern. Maintenance was completed on the northern end of the Barr Farm Restoration project in early February 2026 with General Fund dollars.

Stabilization by the project is estimated to reduce sediment load on Fountain Creek by over 104,000 tons per year. State-of-the-art toe wood structures and large riprap bank protection methods were used to stabilize and enhance two miles of Fountain Creek on the Barr Farm. Following completion of the Barr Farm 1 and 2 Channel Restoration Projects, monitoring and inspection were conducted to evaluate structural integrity and vegetation growth.

The northern end of the Barr Farm project indicated displaced riprap, some removed or damaged toe wood and a concern of flanking, where the creek is threatening to move behind the established willow and cottonwood plantings and other bank protection features. Erosion has been observed south of the primary impact area due to toe wood damage and uplifted riprap. It has been determined that high-flow events are the likely cause of the observed displacement and structural impacts at the Barr Farm site. If flanking occurs, the creek would begin flowing behind the restored and stabilized banks, leading to floodplain damage (including removal of planted willows and cottonwoods) and potentially reversing the progress achieved through the original restoration project work in 2020.

Maintenance work consisted of repairing approximately 250 feet of creek bank using 136 tons of existing riprap and an additional 564 ton hauled in material for a total of 700 tons of riprap. The area was seeded and covered with coir fabric 444 square yards of the bank overflow area. Willows will be installed at the site in the spring. The total cost to date is $104,800 which does not include the cost of willow installation. Discussion turned to capital investment funds as opposed to funds for maintenance of capital investment projects. Continued maintenance cannot be financed from capital investment funds because of restrictions on the use of those funds. Maintenance funding must be supported by other means such as mill levies, which are hardly ever popular with voters. Regardless of where funds come from, the maintenance issue along Fountain Creek will be ongoing as future peak flow events adversely affect the Fountain Creek Riparian Corridor.

Mike Holmberg, Bureau of Reclamation, updating Lower Ark on dire snow pack in Arkansas River Basin.

Mike Holmberg, Bureau of Reclamation, provided an update on current snow pack in the Arkansas River Basin. As of February 23, 2026, Pueblo Reservoir currently contains 216,784 acre feet of water, of which 132,390 is project water, 43,948 excess capacity water, 29,334 winter water, 5,173 winter water carry over, leaving 112,983 of project space available in Pueblo with 38,771 acre feet available project space at Twin and Turquoise Lakes. The Reservoir storage comparisons are as follows: Ruedi Reservoir percent of average is 93% and 86% of 2025 storage, Turquoise, 96% and 94%, Twin Lakes, 101% and 92%, Pueblo Reservoir, 102% and 89% for a system total of 101% for average and 89% of 2025 capacity. The dire news for the Arkansas River Basin is that snow pack is at 49% of median snow pack levels, which so far is the worst on record, worse than 2002 and 2012. Without major snow or precipitation events in March, April and May, the outlook for the Arkansas River Basin is bleak. This bleak outlook will not affect reservoir storage levels until the 2027 Water Year.

Board action approved an agreement on the CSU, Pueblo Campus Urban Renewal Project. The board also approved a Proclamation by the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District Recognizing March 15 as the First Day of the 2026 Irrigation Season, which recognizes the farmers, ranchers, ditch companies, and government officials who work year-round to maintain infrastructure, protect water rights, and deliver water efficiently across the Lower Arkansas Valley and that Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District was created to help maintain water and water ownership in Pueblo, Crowley, Bent, Otero and Prowers counties to support the agricultural heritage, wildlife habitat, and future of the Lower Arkansas Valley. The full proclamation will appear on the Lower Ark website.

Lastly, Jack Goble was nominated by Jessica Mills, Lower Ark Educational Outreach Coordinator, for the Leaders in Agriculture Award hosted by the Denver Business Journal in partnership with Colorado Farm Bureau. Leaders in Agriculture honors the movers and shakers guiding Colorado’s $40 billion agriculture economy.

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