Water Supply and Demand
protecting water quality
"Land use and water development shall not significantly degrade the health of the affected watershed(s)." — Routt County UDC
Important Rule:
Development should not harm local watersheds.
Developers must fix any negative impacts.
Main Problems:
Nitrogen & Phosphorus
Cause algae blooms in summer.
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Current Discharges (MCMWSD):
Treats 92,000 gallons of water daily.
Releases 4.1 pounds of phosphorus and 26 pounds of nitrogen each day.
Runoff Contributions:
Natural runoff adds 57 pounds of phosphorus and 390 pounds of nitrogen from the Upper Yampa River Basin.
Watershed Facts:
Total area: 195,000 acres; SMR is about 4.2% of this area.
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Sewer System Facts:
Serves 390 homes plus 121 more from sewage vaults.
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Understanding Stagecoach Reservoir Water Quality issues:
Ways to Improve Water Quality
1.
Upgrading wastewater treatment
New technology will decrease:
0.6 pounds/day of phosphorus
13.6 pounds/day of nitrogen
Funding:
SMR will pay for upgrades and provide:
$1.64 million in the first year
$5.45 million per year when fully built.
2.
Stormwater management
Using smart techniques to manage runoff
Bioretention Areas
Infiltration Trenches
Pocket Wetlands
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Effectiveness
Removes up to 95% of sediments and nutrients.
Reduces phosphorus by 50-70% and nitrogen by 55%.
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Monitoring Plan
Track water quality during and after construction.
3.
Snowmaking
Snowmaking causes water impurities such as Nitrogen to precipitate out when water freezes.
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Snowmaking on the northern slopes also causes a later melt, contributing colder water to the system later in the melt season.
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