Arvada Water Series

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ARVADA PRESSARVADA PRESSINDEXVolume 7, Issue 34

CLASSIFIEDS 19

ELEVATION 17

EVENTS CALENDAR 18

OPINION 6

SPORTS 10

OBITUARIES 26

JANUARY 19, 2012 www.great8newspapers.com

Jefferson County, Colorado

AP 1.19.12

Water treatment plants are the behind-the-scenes workhorses that transform our water before we even turn on the fau-cet — an everyday action people might not think much about.

“When we’re doing our jobs right, we’re invisible,” said Mike Happe, a wa-

ter resource engineer with the city of Westminster.

After water flows from high in the mountains through creeks, rivers and reservoirs, it hits a water treatment plant, where the unseen work starts.

Most water treatment plants use sev-

eral main methods to transform raw wa-ter into clear, drinkable water. First, wa-ter fl ows to a basin, where it gets a dose of chemicals to help separate particles out of the water. Then, the water goes through fi lters to get rid of even smaller particles. The water receives a fi nal in-jection of disinfectant chemicals before

Water treatment steps up safetyWhen we sip a tall glass of water, take a hot shower or water the lawn, we’re enjoying a product that has taken a long and calculated journey.

See WATER Page 13

Brad Wyant, chief plant operator and electro mechanical technician supervisor at Arvada’s Ralston Water Treatment Plant, climbs to ground level after replacing fi lters on the raw water line.

STORY BY MEGAN QUINNPHOTOS BY JUSTIN SAGARSEE

Editor’s Note: This story is the fi rst in an ongoing series exploring the impor-tance and future of water in our region.

ARVADA PRESS > JANUARY 19, 2012 > PAGE 13

13-COLOR

1) Flocculation: A process where chemicals are added to the water to form sticky globs, or “floc,” that attract dirt and other particles.

2) Sedimentation: When the flocs attract enough dirt, they become heavy and sink to the bottom of the basin, separating themselves from the clear water on top.

3) Filtration: The clear water moves to a filtration stage. There, the water flows through filters to remove even smaller particles. Filters are generally made out of layers of sand, gravel and charcoal.

4) Disinfection: Before water is safe to drink, small amounts of chlorine or other sanitizing chemicals must be added to kill bacteria or microorganisms.

5) Storage: Water is stored in large tanks until it is pumped to homes and businesses.

Water treatment plant

From Page 1

the clear, treated water moves into holding tanks. Finally, it’s pumped to homes and businesses.

Extra ingredientsSo what gets added to our

water before it’s safe to drink? To kill disease-carrying

bacteria and viruses, many plants use a type of chlorine, such as sodium hypochlorite. Crews might also add lime or carbon dioxide to adjust the pH balance, then add fluoride to promote strong teeth.

Water fluoridation is rou-tine in Colorado, but has been a contentious issue through-out the U.S. Some argue that fluoride is unnecessary, un-healthy or ineffective.

“How much you put in has really become a controversy,” said Larry Hack, an Arvada water treatment manager.

Since many residents get fluoride from other sources such as toothpaste, cities like Arvada have decided to add about 0.7 milligrams per liter of water, which is on the lower end of the range recommend-ed by the state. Denver Water, which serves cities such as Lakewood and Wheat Ridge, favors 0.9 milligrams per liter, according to federal records.

Other additives that are poured in our water do more than promote health. Treat-ment plants add polymers or a chemical called alum to coax particles to glob togeth-er. This “globbing together” is a process called flocculation. When the “flocs” become big and heavy enough, they sink to the bottom of the basin. That leaves the clear water on top, which flows to more steps in the filtration process.

Different plants might use different combinations of treatments because their water comes from different sources. For example, North-glenn and Westminster treat water stored at Standley Lake, while Golden uses mainly Clear Creek water. Thornton, on the other hand, diverts wa-ter from both Clear Creek and the South Platte River, ac-cording to annual reports.

When it comes down to it, treatment plant workers agree that the cleaner the original water source, the lower the amount of chemicals added.

“We chalk it up to water-shed protection efforts,” said Tom Settle, Westminster’s wa-ter treatment superintendent.

Demand shifts by seasonOn a recent day, water

flowed lazily through a chem-ical mixing basin at the Ar-vada Water Treatment Facility. In summer months, the huge outdoor basin would be filled with rushing water, but in January, the water only trick-les around the sides.

Winter is considered the “slow” time for many water treatment facilities because demand for water is low. Crews use the winter months to make repairs and switch out equipment, said Jim Sul-livan, director of utilities.

Once summer comes, plants prepare for a spike in water usage throughout the metro area.

In winter months, West-minster’s 110,000 residents use about 10 million gallons a day, but that number goes up to around 35 million gallons a day in summer.

“A lot of that water ends up on people’s lawns,” Settle said.

In fact, residential cus-tomers typically use about 50 percent of their water on

landscaping, according to Denver Water.

Denver Water provides

water services to 25 percent of the state’s population — about 1.3 million customers.

WATER: Summer leads to peak demand

Brad Wyant, chief plant operator and electro mechanical technician supervisor at the Ralston Water Treatment Plant, activates a flocculation train after one was taken off-line for repairs on Jan. 12.

Kelly Cline, left, takes plankton samples at Standley Lake while Andy Cross documents collected data during a field test on Jan. 5.

Marc Miller, electro mechanical technician at the Ralston Water Treatment Plant, secures an insertion pipe which will be used to direct aluminum sulfate into the raw water main on Jan. 12.

From mountaintop to tap

The state depends on snowmelt to fuel the creeks and rivers that provide water to cities and private water suppliers.

Communities around the state use different strategies to provide their residents with water. While the state is split into seven water divisions, municipalities and private water suppliers are not limited to obtaining water rights within their division. The Denver metro area is part of Division 1, the South Platte River Basin.

In the Denver metropolitan area, many cities and towns depend on Denver Water, a public utility that gets its funding from water rates

and new tap fees. The agency is the state’s oldest and largest water utility, and provides about one-third of the state’s treated water supply.

Denver Water serves about 1.3 million people in the metropolitan area and uses about 265,000 acre-feet of water a year. An acre-foot – the amount of water it takes to cover an acre to a depth of one foot – totals about 325,000 gallons of water.

Denver Water has a complex port-folio of water rights that allows it to get its water from the South Platte River, Blue River, Williams Fork River and Fraser River watersheds. The dis-tributor also draws from the South

Boulder Creek, Ralston Creek and Bear Creek watersheds. Denver Wa-ter’s collection system covers about 4,000 square miles in eight counties, including about 438 square miles of Jefferson County, and uses 15 reser-voirs for water storage.

Residents and businesses in Wheat Ridge all get their water from private distribution companies, with Wheat Ridge Water and Consolidated Mutu-al Water Company being the primary suppliers. Both suppliers tap Denver Water for at least some of their water.

Lakewood is a “master meter” customer of Denver Water, mean-ing that the city operates its own de-livery system and bills residents for water usage, but buys treated water from Denver Water. The city also has some small water districts that were in place when it was incorporated, which still serve some residents.

Both Arvada and Golden oper-ate municipal water-supply systems

that depend on substantial water-rights portfolios running the gamut from senior rights to more recently acquired junior rights that can be pre-empted by someone with more senior rights.

Arvada gets about 80 percent of its water through a contract with Denver Water. The city buys un-treated water, about 19,500 acre-feet per year, through a “firm yield” agreement that guarantees that amount no matter how water sup-ply has been affected by weather conditions.

The other 20 percent to meet Ar-vada’s demand comes from rights on Clear Creek and Ralston Creek. Arvada Director of Utilities Jim Sul-livan said in drought years, such as 2002 – the worst drought year in the state’s recorded history – the city gets far less water than it has actual rights for.

“That’s why the firm rights with

Denver Water are so important,” he said.

In Golden, the city’s water portfo-lio focuses on Clear Creek, and the city has some of the most senior di-rect-flow rights on the creek, which means that even in low-flow periods, the city has the right to divert water. The city also owns three reservoirs for water storage to cover drought periods and growth demands, and a transmountain tunnel that supplies Western Slope water to the city.

Golden’s portfolio also includes an in-stream right to water that the city obtained in 2003. That right helps ensure that a reasonable amount of water will pass through the city in Clear Creek to assure the recreational value of the city’s white-water course.

“We get great economic value without actually consuming any of that water,” said Golden Public Works Director Dan Hartman.

Water rights and usage decisions are handled by water courts and engineers in each of Colorado’s seven water divisions. The divisions were established by the Water Right and Determination Act of 1969, and are based on drainage patterns of the state’s seven major rivers. The Denver metro area is part of Division 1, the South Platte River Basin.

STORY BY LINDA DETROY

In Colorado, the admonition to “think snow” has a far more critical meaning than hoping for good conditions for winter recreation.

PAGE 14 > JANUARY 19, 2012 > ARVADA PRESS ARVADA PRESS > JANUARY 19, 2012 > PAGE 15

PAGE 16 > FEBRUARY 2, 2012 > ARVADA PRESS

BY MEGAN [email protected]

Anyone who pays a monthly water bill knows that water has its price. But what are

we really paying for each month, and where does that money go?

Water can be a costly com-modity. But for many cities, it’s the day-to-day operations and maintenance costs that add up the most. When the costs of ma-terials, chemical additives or la-bor go up, so do residents’ bills.

While average users may not have control over the costs of construction materials or the water itself, there’s one thing they do have control over: the amount that fl ows from their own taps.

“One of the big questions we get is, ‘Why does my bill cost so much? Did I really use that much water?’” said Anne Beierle, the city of Golden’s deputy director of pub-lic works.

Conservation is key, water providers said. In fact, water bills are often designed to encourage residents to watch their us-age. In some cities, such as Thornton, Ar-vada, Wheat Ridge and Northglenn, rates are determined based on how much is used per month. When families use a base number of gallons, they pay one rate. But if they let the tap run long enough to spill over into the next tier of usage, the same family would pay a higher rate per gallon.

For example, an average Westminster household pays about $3.78 per 1,000 gal-lons. If usage goes above 20,000 gallons in a given month, the bill will hit $5.60 per 1,000 gallons instead.

Jim Sullivan, Arvada’s utilities director, said the tiered system helps encourage conservation, but it’s rare for households to move into a more expensive tier.

An average household used about 115,000 gallons of water in 2010, according to Denver Water, a public utility that serves about 1.3 million people in the metro region.

Aside from usage, costs vary from provider to pro-vider for a few other reasons. Providers spend part of

their budget on chemicals that make the water safe to drink, but the amount varies based on the amount of water and the original quality of the raw wa-ter.

Utility pro-v i d e r s a l s o spend a big chunk of their budgets on con-struction and repairs. Denver Water, which provides wa-ter for the city of Denver and many of its surrounding suburbs, is responsible for 3,000

From current to currencyPhoto by JUSTIN SAGARSEE

Jeff Torrey, electro mechanical technician at the Ralston Water Treatment Plant, works on a broken fl ash mixer motor near the raw water main on Jan. 12.

Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series exploring the importance and future of water in our region. In coming weeks we’ll explore factors that affect quality and supply, and laws governing water.

Water bills cover variety of expenses

KNOW YOUR RATES

WATER RATES IN PRICE PER 1,000 GALLONS

City ArvadaGoldenLakewoodNorthglennThornton WestminsterWheat Ridge

Rate$3.20$4.77*$4.56*$3.72$3.38$3.78$4.25

* denotes a fl at rate, not a tiered rateNote: Tiered prices refl ect the rate per 1,000 gallons up to 10,000 gallons a month. Rates may be higher with higher usage.

See WATER BILLS, Page 17

16COLORWATER

ARVADA PRESS > FEBRUARY 2, 2012 > PAGE 17

Photo by JUSTIN SAGARSEE

Marc Miller, electro mechanical technician at the Ralston Water Treatment Plant, replaces pressure reducing valve filters at the facility on Jan. 12.

miles of pipe. Last year, Denver Wa-ter spent more than $11.3 million on restoration and replacement of water pipes.

“That’s a big thing for us—stay-ing on top of infrastructure repairs,” said Denver Water spokeswoman Stacy Chesney.

In addition, providers allocate sections of their budget to secure

water rights, defend those water rights and protect the quality of their untreated water sources.

“The wild card for us is water rights,” said Beierle, the Golden wa-ter official. “Protection of our wa-ter supply is a big deal, and all of us who use Clear Creek for our water pay close attention to that.”

Several water providers an-nounced that water bills would go up this year. Denver Water cus-tomers recently saw a 5.5 percent

increase, or about $35 a year for suburban customers, according to a press release. In Arvada, average family homes will see a 4.5 percent increase, or about $19 a year, due to rising infrastructure costs.

Sullivan said the budgeting be-hind the city’s water is a constant balancing act.

“We don’t make a profit here,” he said. “We’re just trying to break even, and it’s the same for all the other water providers.”

WATER BILLS FROM PAGE 16

How can families help young children prepare for success in geometry? A game with shapes is a great start. For more math activities see the authors’ book “Learning through the Seasons,” now available in Spanish.

Materials neededTen popsicle (craft) sticks,

glue, construction paper, and crayons.

What to doDraw and point out the

characteristics of some basic shapes like squares, rectangles, triangles, pentagons, circles, rhombus (diamond) and trap-ezoids, or read a book about shapes.

Then take a walk around your house and help children identify basic shapes. If it is a nice day take a walk outside and look for those shapes. Lat-er, choose a place with a flat surface and together count out 10 sticks.

Help children create a given shape using a specified num-ber of sticks. For example, you could ask children to make a shape with three sticks. Help your child remember the name of that shape.

See if a rectangle could be made with all 10 sticks and then create that shape togeth-er. What about a square? Inves-tigate what makes a square dif-ferent from a rectangle.

Together find the great-est number of sticks it would take to make a square. Ask your children if it is possible to make a circle. Why not? Be sure to identify each shape as you help your children create it.

Talk about where you saw these shapes on your walk. En-courage your children to find more. You could play “Find that Shape” game with this. Take turns saying the name of a shape and see if children can find it. Then trade places.

How will this help my children?

Families are helping chil-dren identify different shapes and learning important math vocabulary that is also part of reading and speaking vocabu-lary. Your children are practic-ing counting skills as they use a different number of sticks to build shapes and develop-ing logic and problem solving skills as they discover how to make the figures.

What else can we do?Your children might enjoy

gluing the sticks down into a particular shape and then add-ing details to make a picture.

Great books to discover to-gether are “My Very First Shape Book” by Eric Carle, “Shapes, Shapes, Shapes” and other books by Tana Hoban, “Mouse Shapes” by Ellen Stoll Walsh, and “Flip a Shape: Play!” by SA-Mi Books by Ed Emberley help older children use step-by-step directions.

Esther Macalady is a former teacher, who lives in Golden, and participates in the Grand-parents Teach Too writing group.

Fun with shapesESTHER MACALADY

LIFE OF LEARNING

HAVE A STORY IDEA? Email your ideas to Arvada Community Editor Megan Quinn at meganq@

milehighnews.com or contact her at 303-279-5541.

17

6750 Carr St. • Arvada, CO 80004

CO-PASTORSRusty Butler &Valerie Oden

303 .421 .5135 • www.arvadaumc.org

S ERV ICE S 8 & 10 am

Nursery provided duringboth services

Church School at 9 & 10 am

PLACES OF WORSHIPCornerstone

Church of God5624 Yarrow St., Arvada

Rev. Jimmy Dickens, Sr. PastorSunday: Sunday School 9:30

Worship Service: 10:30Wednesday: Classes for all ages 7:00

303-744-3188Nursery Available

AP

CROSSROADSCHURCH OF DENVER

A PLACE TO DO LIFE

SERVICE TIMESSUNDAY: 9 AM AND 10:30 AM

WEDNESDAY: 6:30 PMCHILDREN’S MINISTRY FOR ALL AGES

9725 W. 50th • Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

(303) 421-3800 Main

Faith Bible ChapelOne Church - Two Locations

George Morrison, Senior PastorPlease join us for our weekend

and mid-week services62nd & Ward Road

Saturday 5:00 pm • Family Worship CenterSunday 8:30 am • Family Worship CenterSunday 10:30 am • Family Worship CenterWednesday 6:30 pm • Family Worship Center

I-70 & Carr StreetSunday 9:00 am and 10:45 am

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

Arvada Christian Church

8010 West 62nd Avenue303-422-5412

Worship .................... 9:30 amThurs. Night Bible Study ..7:00 pm

Nursery Available

UNITED METHODIST

PENTECOSTALNON-DENOMINATIONAL

Rev. Dr. John M. O’Lane, Head of StaffSunday School for All Ages: 9 am

(nursery provided)Sunday am worship: 10 am (nursery provided)

5592 Independence St. 80002Tel. 303-422-3463

www.arvadapc.org • email: offi [email protected] enrolling for Preschool & Parent’s Day Out

PRESBYTERIANNON-DENOMINATIONAL

Does your congregation have anEaster Worship Service?

Easter Worship Service

special pages will publish

March 29 & April 5.

Call MichellePatrick today 303-279-5541 x242

ARVADA PRESS > FEBRUARY 16, 2012 > PAGE 13

13WATER STORY


A close eye and careful monitoring are key to keeping pollutants out of

our everyday drinking water.Whether it’s water-borne dis-

eases, invasive species or pollu-tion, it’s up to a combination of water laboratories, testing facili-ties, activist groups and govern-ment agencies to make sure the water we drink is clean.

For many cities, monitor-ing begins at a treatment plant, such as the city of Golden, which serves as a central location for collecting a huge volume of data on Clear Creek and its flow.

Golden is part of a group of cities that helps collect and publish detailed data sets on the water’s quality and condition.

“I don’t know another river in Colorado that has so much data collection,” said Anne Bei-erle, the city’s deputy director of public works.

The group started in the early 1990s as a way for cities that use Clear Creek water, such as Golden, Arvada, Thorn-ton, Northglenn and Westmin-

ster, to monitor quality and share informa-tion.

Some cities use Clear Creek data to keep track of nutrients that might cause algae

blooms that affect the water’s taste and col-oring, while others, such as Golden, monitor data to keep track of metals that flow down-stream, such as iron, zinc and manganese.

“There’s so much historic mining in Colo-rado, so it’s common for that to show up in the raw water,” Beierle said.

Though the Golden lab keeps tabs on Clear Creek, area water treatment specialists also rely on higher-ups to help protect other waterways.

Many cities are keeping an eye on the South Platte River, which environmental ac-tivist groups have tagged as one of the metro area’s most polluted rivers.

A 2007 report from Environment Colorado listed the South Platte River as the 14th most polluted river in the country. The river, which provides water to cities such as Thornton and Denver, is currently facing the risk of more pollution.

One source of pollution is Suncor Energy, whose Commerce City oil refinery was re-

cently ordered to clean up toxic chemicals that have started to leak into Sand Creek, a tributary of the South Platte. A January re-port from the Colorado Department of Pub-lic Health and the Environment ordered the company to take additional measures to stop the leak and assess the damage.

The city of Thornton has been monitoring the cleanup efforts, and the contamination is not expected to end up in the city’s drinking water, said Mark Koleber, Thornton’s water supply director.

Thornton draws some of its water from the river-fed Burlington Ditch, mainly during the late spring. Recent testing showed the water there is not contaminated, he said.

“We are still concerned about the South Platte because it poses challenges for us, but we’ve followed steps to ensure the water al-ways meets and exceeds standards,” he said.

Zeroing in on water quality Monitoring for contaminants is ongoing responsibility

Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series exploring the importance and future of water in our region. In coming weeks we’ll explore factors that affect supply and laws governing water.

See WATER, Page 18


Vicki Coppage, senior chemist at the Golden Water Treatment Plant, conducts a hardness test in the facility's lab on Tuesday.

PAGE 18 > FEBRUARY 16, 2012 > ARVADA PRESS

18

Thornton is not the only city monitoring contamination.

In 2010, the CDPHE ordered Cotter Corp. to clean up a ura-nium leak that had leached in-to Ralston Creek, an upstream source of water for the city of Ar-vada.

The source of the leak was the Schwartzwalder Mine, an un-derground uranium mine that opened in the early 1950s. Cot-ter Corp. operated the mine from 1966 until 2000, when the mine stopped running.

In 2010, CDPHE learned that discharge from the mine con-tained high levels of uranium that violated water safety standards. Cotter Corp was ordered to step up cleanup efforts and divert the creek away from the mine by the end of January.

The city of Arvada has said it is not concerned that uranium from the mine will leak into the city’s water because of Arvada’s water treatment methods and the mine’s distance from the city. However, the city did step up its testing after news that the mine was still leaching uranium into Ralston Creek.

Though chemical pollution poses a big threat to water sup-plies, not all water quality con-cerns come from dangerous chemicals. In the case of Standley Lake, a big problem is Eurasian

water milfoil, an invasive plant that sucks oxygen from the water and can create conditions where algae can bloom. That algae may affect the taste or color of the wa-ter.

The milfoil is so loathed that a framed “Wanted” poster of the plant hangs in the city of West-minster’s water quality lab. West-minster carefully monitors the lake to keep milfoil in check.

Careful monitoring is also nec-essary to avoid the spread of wa-ter-borne illnesses. Though inci-dents are rare, a 2008 salmonella outbreak in the city of Alamosa’s water system sickened 442 peo-ple and caused one death, ac-cording to a report the CDPHE.

Beierle said an incident like the outbreak in Alamosa was “highly unlikely” in the metro ar-ea, where water providers draw from surface water from lakes, reservoirs and streams. That wa-ter is automatically chlorinated because it comes from sources that would likely come in contact with bacteria and sediment.

Alamosa’s main water source, on the other hand, came primari-ly from unchlorinated well water.

Though the water would nor-mally not need to be treated be-cause of its pure origin, the CD-PHE found that small cracks in the city’s well water holding tanks likely allowed contaminants in-side. Since the outbreak, the city chlorinates its water.

WATER FROM PAGE 13


Vicki Coppage, senior chemist at the Golden Water Treatment Plant, takes samples in the lab on Tuesday morning.

THINGS TO DOANNOUNCEMENTSTHROUGH FEBRUARYExempla Lutheran Medial Center will host free blood pressure screenings from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., every Thursday in the month of February on the second floor of the Lutheran Medical Center, 8300 Lutheran Parkway in Wheat Ridge. The event is open to all community members and there is no need to register.

FEB. 18 A technology recycle event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 18, at The Egg and I restaurant parking lot, 8025 Sheridan Blvd. in Arvada. For more information, call 303-577-0079.

FEB. 18Blue Spruce Chapter of National Society Daughters of the American Revolution February meeting will be held at 9 a.m., Saturday Feb. 18, at Cafe del Sol, 608 Garrison St, Lakewood. There will be a business meeting and program. The program will be Heidi Baird’s presentation of “Washington, Adams, Jefferson: The Women Behind the Power.” Members and prospective members are invited. Please RSVP to Mur, 303-986-2301 or email [email protected] by Feb. 17.

FEB. 20The Colorado Hornets Baseball Club is holding a fundraiser at Yogurtland (7947 Wadsworth, near Target) from 7 to 9 p.m. The Colorado Hornets, our 12 year-old Level 1 baseball team with the North Jefferson Junior Baseball Association (NJJBA), has been asked to represent our area in the annual 2012 Cooperstown Dreams Park experience. A portion from all sales from 7 to 9 p.m. will go towards offsetting costs for this trip. Please come support these boys in this dream opportunity! For more information, please visit www.coloradohornetsbaseball.org.

FEB. 21-MARCH 15Do you lack balance or fear falling? This 8-week class gives you tips and exercises to develop your strength and balance, as well as provide you with tips to help if you fall. Classes meet Tuesdays and Thursday for 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Feb. 21 through March 15, at the Community Recreation Center, 6842 Wadsworth Blvd. Register in advance with payment: $46 for Apex resident, $55 for non-resident. For more details call 303-425-9583.

FEB. 24Jefferson County Business Education Series presents “Email and Mobile Marketing Strategies” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 24, at DDRC Conference Room, 11177 W. 8th Ave., Suite 300 in Lakewood. Admission is $20 per person and lunch is included. Seating is limited so registration is required by Feb. 20. For more information and to register visit www.Jeffcobrc.org/BusinessEducation.

FEB. 27Story hour at Jake’s Toy Box will feature local author and illustrator of children’s books Natasha McConnachie from 10 a.m. to 1

p.m., Monday, Feb. 27, at 14455 W. 64th Ave. in Arvada. McConnachie will be reading her newest release “Kitty Cat Finds a A Home.” For more information, call 720-974-3222.

EVENTS FEB. 18Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge is hosting it’s first event of the 20th Anniversary year long celebration at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 18, in the parking lot of Two Ponds 9210 West 80th Ave., Arvada. Arrive at 7:30 a.m. to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Nathan and Daniel McAdams will give brief instruction on the bird count and will lead a bird walk on the refuge. Following this field experience at 9 a.m., Dave Menough of Wild Birds Unlimited will give a presentation, “How Birds Survive in Winter,” at City Pizza, 9959 West 80th Avenue. This family friendly event is free and open to the public. All are invited. For more information, contact Joyce Persson at 303-424-3277.

FEB. 18Join the Colorado Railroad Museum in commemorating Black Histroy Month with “Black on Track: African American Connections and Stories” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 18, at 17155 W. 44th Ave. in Golden. Listen to storytellers share how the railroad touched the lives of the black community in the Denver area and see a photographic exhibit from the Blair Caldwell African American Research Library. Admission is $5 for children (under 2 are free), $15 for adults, $30 for families and $10 for seniors (over 60). For more information, visit www.ColoradoRailroadMuseum.org or call 303-279-4591.

FEB. 19Applewood Bridal Fair will be from noon to 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 19, in the Ballroom at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, 4005 Kipling St. A variety of wedding vendors will be available. Cost to attend the event is free. Prize-Drawings will be held. Brides can pre-register for the event at www.applewoodbridalfair.net. For more information, call 303-231-1300 or visit www.applewoodbridalfair.net.

FEB. 25Come celebrate “The Free Buffalo Bill Birthday Party” from noon to 4 p.m., Saturday Feb. 25, at The Rock Rest Lodge, 16005 Mt. Vernon Road in Golden. Col. Al Huffman, Colorado’s best-known, best-loved Buffalo Bill reenactor for 30 plus years, will be honored. There will be live music, costume contests, door prizes and special presentations. Addmission is free and it is free to enter in contests. For more information, [email protected].

FEB. 25Unleash some fun for the West Arvada dog park from 3 to 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 25, at the D-Note, 7519 Grandview Ave. in Olde Town Arvada. There will be a benefit concert and a silent auction. The

suggested donation at the door is $5 per person, $8 per couple and $10 per family (a family includes two adults and kids. Please no pets. Donations for the silent auction are still being accepted contact Debbie at [email protected]. For more information, visit www.westarvadadogpark.org.

FEB. 28The Wheat Ridge art league will meet from 7 to 9 a.m., Feb. 28, at the Active Adults Center, 6363 W. 35th Ave.. Wheat Ridge. After the business meeting, local artist Joni Lynn Tomasetti will demonstrate painting landscapes using oil paints. Residents of any Denver suburb are welcome to attend. For more information, call 303-278-8247 or 303-421 or email [email protected] or [email protected].

VISUAL ART FEB. 26 THROUGH APRIL 1Miners Alley Playhouse presents the Tony Award-winning “Master Class” playing Feb. 24 through April 1. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 6 p.m. Tickets are $19 to $26.50 with senior, student and group rates available by calling 303-935-3044 or online at minersalley.com.

THROUGH MARCH 16The Art of Hal Shelton will be featured at Foothills Art Center through Friday, March 16, at 809 15th St., Golden. Hal Shelton, one of Colorado’s most successful painters, will be featured in the FAC Community Gallery. Locals may be familiar with his work from the large “banner” displayed on the parking garage in downtown Golden. For more information visit www.foothillsartcenter.org or call 303-279-3922.

THROUGH MARCH 20“The At of Place” runs through March 20 in the James J. Richey Gallery in the Lakewood Civic Center, 480 S. Allison Parkway. The exhibit showcases Colorado pastel artists return to their favorite places. For tickets and more information, call 303-987-7845.

MARCH 2 THROUGH 24Colorado Watercolor Society 21st State Exhibition will run from Friday, March 2 to Saturday, March 24, at Foothills Art Center., 809 15th St., Golden. An opening reception will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Friday, March 2, at the center. Established in 1954, the CWS encompasses over 400 members, including the most renowned watercolorists throughout the state. FAC welcomes this exhibition as an opportunity to demonstrate and support the exceptional watercolor works and growing artistic talent found within Colorado. Michigan Watermedia artist, Kathleen Conover, will jury this year’s exhibition. For more information, visit www.foothillsartcenter.org or call 303-279-3922.

WANT MORE? To see the entire calendar for Things to do, visit our website at great8newspapers.com and click on the “Calendar” tab.

ARVADA PRESS > MARCH 1, 2012 > PAGE 15

quarterfinals next week in Fort Collins on the line.

Faith’s girls grabbed the No. 9 and will travel to Brush High School to face University (14-8) on Friday, March 2. The Eagles (15-7) will likely have to beat Brush (19-3) on Satur-day, March 3, to make it to the quarterfinals.

ScholarshipsThe Eddie Reeves Sports

Foundation will be awarding scholarships to one male and one female student-athlete from Arvada West, Pomona, Ralston Valley and Standley Lake high schools this year. Requirements include a 3.0 GPA, playing college athlet-ics next school year and not receiving a full-ride scholar-ship. Students can contact their school athletic directors for applications.

College scholarshipThe Arvada Running Club

is offering a $1,300 college track or cross country schol-arship to a graduating female high school student for the 2012-13 school year. For more information, email [email protected].

QUICK HITS FROM PAGE 13

Ralston Valley is lone 5A Jeffco girls squad to make Sweet 16

BY JILL [email protected]

Stuck in a slump that nearly ended its season, Ralston Val-ley’s girls basketball team found a way to conquer its demons and capture a vital victory.

After falling to Arvada West in the Class 5A Jeffco League finale and playing a rather uninspired first three quarters against Fair-view in its playoff opener Satur-day night, Ralston Valley seemed to recapture its mojo in the fourth quarter to keep the team’s postseason dreams alive.

Following a first-round bye, the 5A Jeffco League champions hosted the No. 5-seeded Fairview Knights in the second round of the state tournament.

Despite trailing a major-ity of the game, the No. 4 Mus-tangs shut down the Knights in the fourth quarter en route to a 48-41 win. The win advanced Ralston Valley to the Sweet 16 and a road trip Wednesday, af-ter press deadline, to Louisville

to face the Kaye Garms Region’s top seed, Monarch (19-5 record).

“We really stepped up as a team, and different people made the plays that we needed to make to win,” Ralston Valley junior Lauren Yowell said.

After a slow start for both teams, Fairview (15-10) hit deep outside shots to take a 10-6 lead at the end of the first quarter and the momentum moving forward.

Though the Mustangs (20-4) had many opportunities to get back into the game, the team couldn’t seem to get into a rhythm offensively as it missed shots and layups as if there was a lid on the rim and failed to estab-lish any inside presence.

With help from the 6-foot-2 Georgina Ryder inside and spot on 3-point shooters outside, Fair-view took advantage of the Mus-tangs’ missed opportunities and secured the 21-15 halftime lead.

After suffering through an-other uncharacteristically bland quarter, Ralston Valley had to pick up its game or the team’s two seniors would play their last game in a Mustangs uniform.

With a surging burst of energy, Ralston Valley started its come-

back. Despite losing sophomore guard Chantal Jacobs after she fouled out with just under four minutes remaining, the Mus-tangs continued to chip at the Knights’ lead.

Finally, with 2:50 remaining, the Mustangs earned their first lead of the game at 41-40 and didn’t look back. Ralston Valley fearlessly drove the lane, forced Fairview to foul, and the Mustangs hit 10-of-14 free throws down the stretch to seal out the win.

“We played with an ener-gy that we haven’t played with probably since mid-January,” Mustangs coach Jeff Gomer said. “I don’t know where it’s been. We’ve been flat. We were flat af-ter we won league champion-ship. We were flat against Arvada West. We were flat three quarters tonight. That’s more of a team I’m used to seeing, the fourth quarter team. That’s a good sign for the next round.”

Yowell finished the night with a team-high 12 points and said the team had to overcome its frame of mind to find a way to beat the Knights.

“I think we’ve been a little mentally tired,” the 5-foot-11-

inch forward said. “Definitely we were against A-West. I think to-night we had a hard time just get-ting excited for playoffs. I think during the fourth quarter we re-ally started to pick each other up, which is why we won.”

Junior guard Kaylynn Iszler helped lead the fourth-quarter comeback where the Mustangs outscored Fairview 20-7. Iszler used her speed to finish with 11 points, five of which came in that final quarter.

“We are a great team, and we motivate each other,” Iszler said. “That’s one of our biggest things. When we motivate each other no one can stop us.”

Ralston Valley was the lone 5A Jeffco squad to advance to the Sweet 16. A-West, Dakota Ridge, Lakewood and Standley Lake were all bounced out in the sec-ond round Saturday.

“They always seem to play better against better competi-tion,” Gomer said moving for-ward into the playoffs. “We are going to have to shoot probably a little bit better than we did in the first three quarters. If we can defend like we did in the fourth quarter, we’ll be fine.”

Mustangs rally to down Knightsed No. 3 seed Cherry Creek (17-7) on Tuesday night, after press deadline. For an update on the result of Tuesday’s game go on-line at great8newspapers.com.

Columbine, the 5A Jeffco League champion, was the on-ly other Jeffco squad to make it out of the second round. The Rebels slipped by Mullen with the same 3-point victory Ralston Valley managed.

The Mustangs had an oppor-tunity to give themselves some distance in the third quarter against Rock Canyon (12-13). Senior Davis Peterson drained a 3-pointer midway through the third quarter, giving Ralston Val-ley its first double-digit lead of the game at 34-22.

“I thought after my 3-pointer that it would be big,” Peterson said. “Rock Canyon amped up its game and got some stops on us.”

The Jaguars went on a 14-0 run toward the end of the third quarter to actually take the lead. Senior Austin Noyes led the charge with a team-high 16 points for Rock Canyon.

“It’s that third quarter for us,” Svejcar said. “We’ve got to do something about that third quar-ter. We’ve got to figure it out.”

A short jumper by senior Chase Duben and free throw by Svejcar in the final minute of the third quarter allowed the Mustangs to regain the lead.

Svejcar smooths out rocky start

15COLORSPORTS



Under Colorado’s complex water laws, every single drop of rain is spoken for be-fore it hits the ground.

As weather gradually warms and resi-dents begin planning their gardens and watering their lawns, they likely will look to the sky for some help.

Though there are several ways to harness nature’s precipitation, residents should think twice before buying a rain barrel or “water capture device” to take advantage of what little rain falls from our sky each year. For most people in the area, the systems are illegal.

“We won’t be selling any rain barrels this year,” Kelly Grummons, owner of Timber-line Gardens in Arvada. “People are scared they will get in trouble, and there’s a lot of confusion about what the law really is,” he said.

So why are rain barrels such a big deal? After all, they’re just plastic tubs that catch a little rain during the spring and summer months.

The problem is the Gordian knot that is Colorado’s water laws. This thirsty state’s water is governed by historic water rights that date back to the 1850s, often referred to as the priority sys-tem or “first in time, first in right.” That means those with the earliest water rights get first claim on water that flows into certain ditches, streams or wells.

Those who lay claim to water rights from these sources rely on precipitation to augment their sup-ply, meaning anyone who might catch rainwater off a nearby roof could be diverting water from a legal water owner.

As of 2009, however, a change in the law allows spe-cific residents to install water collection systems. Those

who are not connected to municipal water, such as those who use well water for business or home needs, can apply for a permit to capture the rain that would normally run off their roofs to the ground below. These residents qualify if they can prove they aren’t diverting water from someone with vested water rights.

Despite the complicated law, studies show that rain capture methods can have big benefits for the Front Range.

A study done in Douglas County with funding from the Colorado Water Conservation Board said active rain and snowfall collection systems can significantly re-

duce water demand, especially in the summer months. The study, conduct-ed in 2007, showed that outdoor water demand could be reduced by about 65 percent with “moderate conservation” methods.

The possibility of summertime dry spells — and even fires such as last year’s Indian Gulch Fire — has some businesses and homeowners planning ahead through legal water collection methods.

Grummons said there are effective ways to use rain water without being a scofflaw. For example, he said, Tim-berline Gardens only sells water-effi-cient plants that fit well in Colorado’s dry climate, and they teach classes about xeriscaping and conservation efforts.

They use ditch water to keep plants moist, but they also make sure to recy-cle the runoff in a holding pond near the property.

Grummons said residents can also try a technique called rain gardening.

Though the law prohibits most peo-ple from collecting rain water for later use, the law does allow people to direct downspouts toward landscaped areas,

according to the Colorado Division of Water Resources. Rain gardening takes advantage of this loophole.

Homeowners and businesses can plant small, land-scaped gardens in areas where gutter water is likely to flow during a storm.

Timberline has hosted classes on the technique in the past, and Grummons said it is a good way to use the natural flow of rain water instead of turning on the hose full blast.

However, not everyone is so concerned with the state’s rain barrel restrictions.

For some, rain barrels seem impractical or unnec-essary in Colorado’s dry climate. Michelle DeLaria is a stormwater coordinator the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment. She said rain bar-rels don’t do much because Colorado gets only about 12 inches of precipitation a year. The infrastructure need-ed to capture the maximum amount of water almost outweighs the benefits, she said.

“It sounds great on paper, but it’s labor-intensive.”DeLaria said she prefers to shovel spring snow onto

her lawn instead of letting it melt into the street, and she has redirected the spouts on her gutters to her lawn instead of her driveway.

At another Arvada greenhouse, Wright’s Nursery co-owner Russ Wright said they sometimes put a barrel outside their greenhouse to catch water. Yet the 30-gal-lon plastic bucket is only meant to keep the rain from flowing inside and ruining equipment.

Most of the year, the barrel is “bone dry,” he said, and what little they end up capturing waters one or two trees. The Wrights might not even bother with the bar-rel this year, even for watering trees.

“It’s not that dependable, with so little rain. After a while, you get into the habit of not doing it,” he said.

To catch a pail

Find out moreLearn more about rain-

water collection rights and who is eligible to col-lect rainwater through the Colorado State Univer-sity’s Rainwater Collec-tion page at http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/na-tres/06702.html

For information on rainwater collection per-mits, or to apply for a per-mit, visit the Colorado Di-vision of Water Resources at water.state.co.us. Click “Surface Water,” then click “Water Rights” and “Rainwater and Graywa-ter Collection Systems.”


Kevin Wayts, field manager with Timberline Gardens, waters a variety of plants at the nursery on Tuesday afternoon. The gardening center utilizes reclaimed water collection from an on-site pond to water diverse species of plants and trees.

In Colorado, where we get an average of 12 inches of precipitation each year, a total of 14,976 gallons of water could fall on the roof of a typical home each year. That seems like an attractive number to people hoping to capture water for other uses, but the amount residents can re-use is actually much smaller. To capture the maximum amount, those with legal rain barrel permits would have to install barrels and spigots on each gutter, and rain barrel manufacturers calculate a 15 to 20 percent “wastage factor” for drops that escape the collection barrels or are diverted by leaves or debris. Other experts recommend rain gardens, which diverts gutter flows to specially-situated garden areas.

Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series exploring the importance and future of water in our region. In coming weeks we’ll explore legal battles and water rights history.

of water

17COLORWATER SERIES


17-Color-WATER

Early agriculture, mining hold the key to today’s water laws


Searching for a glimmer of gold, Colorado’s early settlers focused their eyes on the state’s rivers and streams.

Yet the waterways where they set up mining operations had another valuable resource: the wa-ter itself.

The early days of the Colorado Territory have shaped how we use and protect our water resourc-es today. As people began settling in Colorado, water-de-pendent industries such as mining and agriculture became the lifeblood of the region.

Because new settlers relied so much on the farmers, the farmers were the ones who set the tone for how water was diverted and what rules would guide its collection and use. Their actions solidified the first water rights in the state.

“When the 59ers came looking for gold, they had to be fed, and the people who fed them were the farmers,” said Gregory Hobbs, a Colorado Supreme Court Justice who has written numerous books about Colorado’s water laws.

Diverting water from rivers and streams became an es-sential practice as agriculture gained traction after the Col-orado Territory was created in 1861. Major ditches moved water across the dry landscape, nourishing farms and pro-viding water for new residents who slowly moved into the area. Because settlers built homes, farms and businesses near these waterways, it’s no surprise that our modern cities are built around the early framework of these ditches, Hobbs said.

“In Colorado, municipal residents stand in the shoes of the farmers who came here first,” he said.

The growth of agriculture shaped Colorado’s “first in time, first in right” law, which means those with the earliest water rights have the first claim on the water itself.

This law was developed as farmers planned their irrigation ditches. They worried that big land buyers would gain con-trol of upstream land and divert water before it reached their farms. To fix the problem, Congress began recognizing land rights as separate from water rights, Hobbs said.

In Colorado, a water right can be held by an individual, or-ganization, corporation or other entity. Water rights are treat-ed like a real piece of property, meaning they can be bought, sold or leased to others.

Water rights don’t exactly equate to ownership of the water itself — all water in Colorado is technically considered prop-erty of the state. A water right gives its owner a place in line to use water from a specific source. The older the water right, the closer to the front of the line.

Typical residents who live in a house or an apartment might not have to keep track of direct water rights, but some-one is looking out for the water that comes out of their tap

when it’s time for a shower or a glass of water. It’s up to cities to maintain water supplies for their residents, and cities acquire water rights just like farmers and water-dependent busi-nesses do.

In Arvada, for example, the city has senior water rights on ditches, including the Wadsworth Ditch that winds through Wheat Ridge and Ar-vada before dumping into Ralston Creek. Arvada uses more than 50 per-cent of the ditch’s water, but the ditch has 83 other shareholders, including the Coors Brewing Company, said ditch board president Bob Schnabel.

Coors is a modern example of the power of water rights, especially dur-ing droughts.

When Adolph Coors started his business in 1873, he purposely locat-ed it in Golden because of the Clear Creek’s water supply.

Business grew over the years, going through a boom after World War II. By 1954, annual production had gone from 300,000 barrels to one million barrels, according to a 2004 report from Matthew Cook, the company’s manager of water resources. Yet water availabili-ty wasn’t keeping up with business, especially when a major drought hit in 1954. With no water, there would be no beer.

To maintain an independent water supply, Coors began aggressively buying senior water rights in the mid-1950s.

The company is one of the few breweries in the country

with its own water rights. “Water has been the life-blood of Coors since it was found-

ed in 1873,” Cook said. The company’s predecessors, name-ly Bill Coors, “had tremendous foresight. They realized they needed to plan for droughts and the need for adequate res-ervoir storage.”

Pioneering for water rights

Photo courtesy of Golden History Museums, City of Golden Collection

In this 1860 photo, miners work in Leavenworth Gulch near Georgetown. Miners relied on rivers and creeks, such as Clear Creek for their mining operations, and relied on farmers to provide food during early days in the Colorado Territory. Mining and agriculture helped shape the state's water rights laws.

Courtesy of Gregory Hobbs’ private collection

This historic map, made in 1894, shows irrigation ditches that were the life-blood for farmers and settlers. Over time, as more settlers situated themselves near water sources, the ditches became the framework for modern-day cities and towns.

Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series exploring the importance and future of water in our region. In coming weeks, we will explore general legal battles over water, and fracking in relation to water.

14 Arvada Press April 12, 201214-Color-WATER SERIES

Disputes over water rights head to water courts

By Megan [email protected]

Tumbling from the mountains into the metro area, the South Platte’s wide, shallow waters carry a life source that is being stretched more than ever before.

Thousands rely on the South Platte for drinking water and agricultural irrigation. Though the South Platte is considered one of the state’s major rivers, its resources are over-allocated, meaning every precious drop is scrutinized, owned, regulated and accounted for through water courts.

“The South Platte is vital to the metro area. It has been in the past and will be in the future,” said Dave Bennett, a project manager with Den-ver Water.

There may be great demand, but those who own water rights on the South Platte follow the same rules as rights owners along any other Colorado waterways. To keep track of how water is being used, or to change the usage, they all head to one place: water court.

This court is where disputes and discussions take place among shareholders, shaping exactly how that water is used throughout the metro area.

Shareholders must go to court to get permission to change usage patterns, diversion location, water ex-changes or augmentation plans. This process is open

for other share-holders to review to make sure one shareholder’s us-age won’t affect other hard-won water allotments.

Going to court may seem seri-ous, but the pro-cess is mostly routine, even if other parties submit statements of opposition.

When shareholders submit statements of opposi-tion, they are often just adding their name to the case so they can monitor how the proceed-ings might affect their own water supply. Many times, the agreements are settled out of court.

“It can be adversarial at times, but it is not by nature,” said Emily Hunt, water re-sources manager for the city of Thornton. “Other entities par-ticipate in the process just to stay up to date.”

Yet the stakes can be high, such as with a case in 2010 in which the Farmers Reservoir and Irrigation Company (FRICO) applied to change the way it used its water rights in the Burl-ington Ditch. The ditch diverts a portion of the South Platte for agricultural and municipal uses.

FRICO wanted to change some of the water rights from agricultural to municipal, as well as adjust the

location from which it di-verted the wa-ter along the river. During a review of its proposal, how-ever, the court d i s c o v e r e d that some of FRICO’s water rights had been

misinterpreted, meaning it had been using more than its share of water since 1927.

Since water rights are based on historical use, FRI-CO was ordered to scale back its water rights to 1927 levels, according to court documents.

FRICO, along with other concerned shareholders, appealed the ruling. The case went all the way to the Colorado Supreme Court, which upheld the initial de-cision.

That decision hit farmers hard, forcing them to find another way to make up for the lost water on which they relied for crops, according to Justice Greg Hobbs, who examined the case in court.

The city of Thornton was among those that had added their names to the Burlington Ditch case to make sure the decisions wouldn’t compromise their water rights. The city gets about half its water from the South Platte.

Because the river is over-allocated, it’s easy for court cases to get contentious, Hunt said. “Everyone is essentially fighting over little molecules of water,” she said.

The great divideThe South Platte River flows through a section of Thornton near Platte River Trailhead Park. The river provides numerous cities and townships with water along the front range, but also hold some of the largest water right contingencies in the state. Photos by Justin Sagarsee

‘A�er decades of people fighting in water court, fighting

over every drop, people are finding that it’s better to just

work together.’Dave Bennett

See WATER Page 15

Arvada Press 15April 12, 201215-Color

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Spring runoff flows over stones in the South Platte River near Platte River Trailhead Park in Thornton.

Yet fighting in court is not the only solution, Bennett said.

Denver Water, along with many other water providers, believe that shareholders can work together for a mutually beneficial plan for the South Platte’s future, he said.

Denver Water gets about half of its supply from the South Platte. With population increases and pe-riodic droughts, providers are look-ing ahead at a future that includes increasing demands on the state’s supply.

According to the Colorado Foun-dation for Water Education, water-demand projections look serious. By 2030, the foundation says, the South Platte is expected to have a 90,600-acre-foot shortfall between

supply and demand. This shortfall is the largest predicted in the state.

That news could be cause for water-rights stakeholders to fight for each drop, but Bennett said suppliers should work together to use the river’s resources wisely.

The South Platte River Basin Roundtable, for example, repre-sents major stakeholders along the river. In the past few years, the group has discussed and im-plemented several conservation projects.

Meanwhile, individual providers are stressing conservation, innova-tion and water-sharing efforts, he said.

“That has been the trend now,” Bennett said. “After decades of people fighting in water court, fighting over every drop, people are

finding that it’s better to just work together.”

Denver Water, which serves parts of communities including Lakewood and Wheat Ridge, has also ramped up conservation-awareness campaigns. Other South Platte users have done the same.

“Instead of diverting new water, we’re looking at how to save and reuse what we have,” Bennett said.

WATER from Page 14

Editor’s Note: �is story is part of an ongoing series exploring the importance and future of water in our region. In coming weeks, we’ll explore fracking, uses for water in municipal waste, and water conservation.

6 Arvada Press April 26, 2012

6

PLACES OF WORSHIP

CROSSROADSCHURCH OF DENVER

A PLACE TO DO LIFE

SERVICE TIMESSUNDAY: 9 AM AND 10:30 AM

WEDNESDAY: 6:30 PMCHILDREN’S MINISTRY FOR ALL AGES

9725 W. 50th • Wheat Ridge, CO 80033(303) 421-3800 Main

Faith Bible ChapelOne Church - Two Locations

George Morrison, Senior PastorPlease join us for our weekend

and mid-week services62nd & Ward Road

Saturday 5:00 pm • Family Worship CenterSunday 8:30 am • Family Worship CenterSunday 10:30 am • Family Worship CenterWednesday 6:30 pm • Family Worship Center

4890 Carr StreetSunday 9:00 am and 10:45 am

Jefferson Unitarian Church

14350 W. 32nd Ave.303-279-5282

www.jeffersonunitarian.orgA Religious Home for the Liberal Spirit

Service Times: 9:15am / 11:00amReligious education for all ages.

Nursery care provided.

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

Rev. Dr. John M. O’Lane, Head of StaffSunday School for All Ages: 9 am

(nursery provided)Sunday am worship: 10 am (nursery provided)

5592 Independence St. 80002Tel. 303-422-3463

www.arvadapc.org • email: offi [email protected]

Now enrolling for Preschool,

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6750 Carr St. • Arvada, CO 80004

CO-PASTORSRusty Butler &Valerie Oden

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S ERV ICE S 8 & 10 am

Nursery provided duringboth services

Church School at 9 & 10 am

UNITED METHODIST

Arvada Christian Church

8010 West 62nd Avenue303-422-5412

Worship .................... 9:30 amThurs. Night Bible Study 7:00 pm

Nursery Available

To list your congregation services call Michelle Patrick303-279-5541 x 242

AP

Restoration Covenant Church

restorationcolorado.org

Sunday evenings at 5 pm(in the sanctuary of Heritage

Community Bible Church)

5615 W. 64th AvenueArvada, CO 80003

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST

Fracking under pressureWater’s role in controversial oil and gas methodsBy Megan [email protected]

On the lips of some, the word fracking translates to opportunity. To others, it’s just a dirty word.

Hydraulic fracturing, a common prac-tice used to extract oil and natural gas from deep in the ground below water aquifers, has gotten plenty of attention for its role in the oil and gas industry. Some see it as an innovative way to tap resources, but others say the practice is dangerous to the environment and health.

Among the myriad issues included in the debate is the issue of water: how much is needed, where it comes from and what to do with the water after a fracking operation is complete. Frack-ing uses water, chemicals and particles of sand to blast into rock nearly one or two miles below the surface. The mixture makes small fractures in the rock, which allows natural gas or oil to flow out.

Colorado ranks 7th in the nation for natural gas production and 12th in crude oil production. Industry officials say fracking is a way to stay on top of the in-dustry and provide jobs in the state.

“When you combine an old process with new technology, it’s definitely a game-changer,” said Stan Dempsey of the Colorado Petroleum Association.

Not everyone is convinced. Activist groups, including local environmental groups Environment Colorado and the National Wildlife Federation, say fracking poses a grave threat to public health and wildlife because of drilling accidents and chemical compounds used in frack fluid.

“We believe the onus lies squarely

with the gas companies and our elected officials to prove that natural gas drill-ing and mining by fracturing is safe and does not pose a real or imminent threat to our children, our health or our envi-ronment,” said April Beach, founder of Erie Rising, a parent-based activist group against fracking near schools and neigh-borhoods.

Of all the water used in the oil and gas industry in Colorado each year, the large majority of it goes into fracking opera-tions, according to the Colorado Oil and Gas Association.

Water makes up about 98 percent of “frack fluid,” which includes about 1 to 2 percent sand and chemicals. The chemi-cals are used mostly to reduce corrosion on pipes or help particles of sand move more quickly through the pipes.

The amount of water needed varies from project to project, but can be any-where between 3,000 to 4,000 gallons per minute, said Tom Pursley of CESI Chemi-cal, a company that works with fracking companies.

Of the amount put into the ground, operations rarely get more than 30 per-cent of the water back.

“We try to reuse it if we can, but some-

times, it’s not fit to use,” he said.

Some critics of frack-ing say the practice per-

manently takes useable water out of the ecosystem by injecting it into the ground. Organizations such as Environment Colorado, for example, have spoken out against fracking because of concerns that the practice will poison water supplies if chemically-treated water is injected into rocks near underground aquifers.

Pursley said fracking operations have not contaminated water in Colorado. Used frack fluid is often recycled or taken to an underground injection well, where it is pumped deep underground. These wells are “highly regulated” so fluid doesn’t leak out.

However, Environmental Protection Agency reports show several recent in-cidents in which fracking fluid from ac-tive drilling has accidentally spilled into neighborhoods or leaked into drinking water.

According to EPA reports, residents in Pavillion, Wyo., reported high levels of chemicals in drinking water last year. The chemicals are linked to those used in nearby fracking operations. The small town’s aquifer sits several hundred feet above a gas cache, which is closer than aquifers on top of typical gas fields.

Ground water contamination is also a

concern. Last year, a blowout at a drilling site in Pennsylvania spilled more than 8,000 gallons of fracking fluid, which leaked near homes and businesses. In that instance, however, the EPA said the chemical levels were not significant enough to harm residents.

The incidents leave lingering ques-tions about how future fracking opera-tions might effect residents, businesses, and the oil-and-gas industry itself.

Laws were passed last year to further regulate fracking, but politicians and ac-tivists have pressed for more regulations to let the public know more about chemi-cals used in fracking.

Congressman Jared Polis authored two bills that would close loopholes in the Clean Air Act and Safe Drinking Water Act that currently allow exemptions for oil-and-gas companies.

If passed, the legislation would require companies to disclose chemicals used in fracking fluids and address potential health effects of drilling emissions.

“Coloradans have a right to know what fracking and drilling will mean for their air, water and property values, especially near homes and schools,” Polis said.

FRACKING LOCATIONS

Where are fracking operations taking place in your area? Find out more about the process and track operations on a map at www. fracfocus.org. FracFocus is the national hyrdaulic fracturing chemical registry, created to give the publc access to reported chemicals used for fracking in their area.

Editor’s Note: �is story is part of an ongoing series exploring the importance and future of water in our region. In coming weeks, we’ll explore uses for water in municipal waste and water conservation.

By Phone:303-279-5541

E-mail:[email protected]

By Fax:303-279-7157

12 Arvada Press May 17, 2012

12-COLOR-WATER

By Darin [email protected]

Mark Bowman still remembers the first time he and his crew had to clean Arvada’s stormwater system in 2004.

Although the system itself had been in place be-fore he began working for the city in the late 1970s, Bowman said, there were no records that mapped the city’s 215 miles of storm pipe, 26 miles of irriga-tion pipe, 2,369 storm and irrigation manholes, and 3,634 storm inlets that follows into seven tributaries.

“Not only were we getting high levels of toxins into the creeks, but our storm systems weren’t very efficient,” Bowman said. “We would have grates that were plugged, inlets that were plugged, or pipes that were halfway full of silt. We would pull up to an inlet, where all the water goes in, and it would be full of silt, trash, trash bags and a whole bunch

of other stuff.”Through the years since, Bowman said, the

stormwater system has become cleaner and easier to maintain. While many cities have recognized the importance of other essential city services, he said,

Brandon Powell, with Lakewood Public Works, reaches over a trash rack in Dry Gulch to remove garbage and debris with a pitchfork on Monday afternoon. Photo by Justin Sagarsee

Graphic courtesy of Engineered Septic Solutions Municipal EngineeringSee Stormwater, Page 13

Rangersof the

WaterCities target stormwater backup, point source pollution

Arvada Press 13May 17, 2012

13-COLOR

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Graphic courtesy of Engineered Septic Solutions Municipal Engineering

they are only beginning to realize the importance of having a func-tional stormwater system.

“Stormwater is still an emerg-ing industry, so there are still some things that we are getting better at,” John Burke, Westminster city project manager and Colorado Storm Water Council co-chair, said. “We understand more things today than we did 10 years ago, and we’re continually looking for better ways to treat and deal with stormwater as it comes through our municipalities.”

Arvada and Westminster, as do most cities in the state, simply provides a system that collects stormwater and moves it through the city, via pipelines into a water-way, such as a creek.

The nation’s stormwater regu-latory guidelines are largely guid-ed by the 1972 Clean Water Act.

It requires municipalities to set water-quality standards for all contaminants in surface wa-ters; makes it unlawful for any-one to discharge pollutants from a point source, into navi-gable waters, unless a provi-sional permit is obtained; and funds the construction of sew-age treatment plants under the construction-grants program.

“I think people are beginning to see the importance of storm-water maintenance and how it af-fects the quality of our streams,” Bowman said. “Thirty years ago, a lot of our creeks and rivers were so polluted throughout the Unit-ed States, so it’s nice that they’ve finally taken a positive approach to this to try and clean that up and reduce the amount of pol-lutants that go into creeks. It’s expensive to do so, but I think it’s very important to do so as well.”

Bowman said maintenance is particularly challenging in April, May and June, when sporadic rainstorms can cause debris to

back up in the city’s stormwater system.

To prevent pollutants from even entering the system, Bow-man and Burke said, Westminster and Arvada spend a lot of time and resources to educate residents about effective ways to eliminate accidental or intentional runoff by providing mailers with water bills or holding training sessions.

Among the suggestions high-lighted in its mailers, the city of Arvada routinely asks residents to make car repairs in their garage areas and encourages people to take their vehicles to a car wash to prevent soap phosphates from entering the system.

The presence of soap phos-phates and nitrogen in stormwa-ter is an emerging concern for advocates who are pushing for stringent stormwater treatment restrictions and for municipal stormwater divisions that must pay a steep price to either redo the entire system or install treatment facilities.

High levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in waters can pro-duce harmful algal blooms, cre-ating dead zones in water bodies, according to Steve Gunderson, director of the state’s Water Qual-ity Control Division. As a result, dissolved oxygen levels are so low that most aquatic life cannot sur-vive, he said.

The state is considering

implementing some form of stormwater-quality regulation, but Burke said more research should be done.

“These are pollutants of issue,” he said, “but there’s nobody that can say they’re being damaged by phosphorus or nitrogen. We’re potentially going to be spend-ing tens, if not hundreds of thou-sands, of dollars every year trying to find something that we don’t even know is a problem.”

Bowman said Arvada would most likely have to redo its en-tire stormwater system, result-ing in higher fees to residents, if regulations were passed.

“I don’t know exactly what our storm infrastructure is valued at,” he said, “but I think to reclaim or begin treating stormwater, you’re looking at millions and millions of dollars to do so and that would just be for the city of Arvada let alone the other cities in the metro area.”

ON POINT

POINT SOURCE POLLUTION can be traced to one source, such a broken sewage pipe or to a business that pours waste chemicals down a drain pipe.

NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION often comes from chemicals and other substances that are washed into lakes, rivers, streams and other water systems after a rainstorm or with melting snow. Fertilizer is major form of nonpoint source pollution

Editor’s Note: This story is part of an ongoing series exploring the importance and future of water in our region. In coming weeks, we’ll explore water conservation and recreational use of water.

Bob Hanson, with Lakewood Public Works, clears debris from trash racks along Dry Gulch on Monday afternoon. Heavy rains force debris downstream where they collect in the racks and can cause �ooding if not removed promptly. Photo by Justin Sagarsee

Stormwater from Page 12

12 Arvada Press May 31, 2012

12-LIFE-COLOR

Requirement for treatment plants would cost billionsBy Darin [email protected]

Every day, nearly 140 million gallons of wastewater is treated by the Denver Metropolitan Wastewater Recla-mation District.

Gene Taylor is one of the operators who monitor the water, with the help of cameras and sen-sors at every step of the treatment pro-cess, as it makes its way from house-hold sinks, drains and toilets into the South Platte River.

The main concern, Taylor said, is to ensure that chemicals and nutrients are at safe levels when the water leaves the system and enters the river.

But the appropriate level of nutrients and chemicals, including phosphorus, nitrogen and ammonia, is the subject of ongoing discussion for water-quality experts and legislators.

Wastewater standards nationwide are largely guided by the 1972 Clean Water Act, which sets wastewater and water-quality standards for all contaminants in surface waters. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces these standards through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Sys-tem permit program, which regulates point sources, including pipes and manmade ditches, that discharge pollutants into bodies of water.

The EPA typically delegates the issuing authority of these discharge permits to in-dividual states. In Colorado, the state Department of Public Health and Environment’s Water Quality Control Commission is charged with issuing these renewable, five-year permits that carry mandatory water-quality regulations.

One of the most notable changes to the state’s water-quality regulations occurred in June 2005, when studies showed that high ammonia levels have a significant im-pact on the aquatic life near discharge areas. The regulations passed that year lowered

the level of ammonia that treatment facilities are allowed to discharge.The Denver Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation District, which serves all but

three cities in Jefferson County, is carrying out a $1.2 billion construction project to upgrade its treatment facilities to comply with discharge permit requirements.

Steve Frank, the Denver Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation District’s public information officer, said $211 million of that amount is being spent to construct a secondary treatment area to filter out additional ammonia and nitrates from treated waters. He said the project is scheduled for completion by Jan. 1, 2015.

Proposed wastewater discharge regulations raise cost concerns

Shawn Tichota, utility technician with the Arvada Wastewater Division, on May 9 monitors a cable attached to a remote-controlled camera that is used to inspect the city’s 410 miles of sewer mains. Photos by Justin Sagarsee

Joseph Sandoval, utility technician with the city of Arvada Wastewater Division, monitors and records data collected by a remote camera probe in part of the 410 miles of city-owned sewer mains.

See Wastewater, Page 13

Arvada Press 13May 31, 2012

13-COLOR

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6550 Yank Way • Arvada, CO 80004One block west of Ward Road; one block north of 64th Ave.

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Requirement for treatment plants would cost billions

the level of ammonia that treatment facilities are allowed to discharge.The Denver Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation District, which serves all but

three cities in Jefferson County, is carrying out a $1.2 billion construction project to upgrade its treatment facilities to comply with discharge permit requirements.

Steve Frank, the Denver Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation District’s public information officer, said $211 million of that amount is being spent to construct a secondary treatment area to filter out additional ammonia and nitrates from treated waters. He said the project is scheduled for completion by Jan. 1, 2015.

Proposed wastewater discharge regulations raise cost concerns

See Wastewater, Page 13

State water-quality officials are considering more changes to discharge regulations.

According to the EPA, too much nitrogen and phos-phorus in the water causes algae to grow faster than ecosystems can handle it. The result is algal blooms that can significantly reduce or eliminate oxygen levels in water areas and result in fish kills.

To address the problem, the Colorado Water Qual-ity Control Division proposed a water-quality-control regulation amendment in Dec. 2011 that would man-date large treatment plants to mitigate the discharge of these two elements into waters.

The Water Quality Control Commission gave pre-liminary approval to these regulations in March. It will review the amendment once more this month before sending it to the EPA for approval. If approved, the reg-ulations would become effective June 30.

Nancy Keller, chairwoman of the Colorado Waste-water Utility Council, said the approval was a misstep because very few studies have been conducted to de-termine the effects of nitrogen on state waterways.

She said the regulations would force nearly 30 per-cent of the state’s wastewater treatment facilities to spend at least $2.5 billion each on added improve-ments and eventually cost the state nearly $25 billion over the next 10 years.

Frank said the funding for these construction proj-ects would come directly from the cities served by the

plants.“It’s a shame to put billions of dollars into some-

thing that has errors in the science and limited grounds proving that it will eventually make a difference in the long run in the river,” Keller said. “If they applied it site-specifically in areas where there were problems, then there’s some very good potential that people would support it, but doing a blanket application across the state with no proof that we’re going to have any effect on our streams for billions of dollars is hard to sell to our city councils.“

Like many of the other 59 local governments served by the treatment plant, the city of Arvada passes waste-water treatment costs to homeowners and charges an additional fee to maintain the city’s 408-mile sewer system.

Steve Wyant, Arvada’s wastewater superintendent, said the city is already addressing needs to replace miles of aging sewer infrastructure and expanding it to accommodate growth in the city’s northwest corner, including Candelas. He said the project cost is already estimated at almost $12 million.

Officials in Golden, which treats its wastewater through a contract with MillerCoors, also are con-cerned about the proposed changes.

“I think that everyone that has a plant has been scratching their heads and trying to get their arms around it,” Beierle said. “Utilities are fee-based, and there isn’t magic money to pay for improvements to plants if the standards or requirements change.”

Wastewater from Page 12

Editor’s Note: This story is part of an ongoing series exploring the importance and future of water in our region. In coming weeks, we’ll explore water conservation and recreational use of water.

Arvada named a top workplaceBy Sara Van [email protected]

Employees have spoken, and the city of Arvada is a good employer.

In April, The Denver Post released its list of top work-places in Colorado, and employees’ opinions helped two Arvada employers find their way onto the list.

The city of Arvada ranked 11th in the large-employer category, places with more than 500 employees, and LT Environmental, Inc., ranked as the 55th Top Work Place in the small-employer category, places with fewer than 150 local employees.

“It speaks really well (of Arvada),” said Mayor Pro Tem Rachel Zenzinger, who represents District 1 on City Council. ”Not only is Arvada the best place to live, it’s also the best place to work.”

This was the first year Arvada took part in this survey, City Manager Mark Deven said.

He noted that 82 percent of the city’s 663 employees responded, a good response rate for a first year of par-ticipation.

“It really shows we have an engaged, active and supportive workforce,” Deven said. ”We have an envi-ronment that supports employees and that turns into excellent service for the community. The ranking says

employees really love to work for the city of Arvada.”Arvada was the only municipal government on the

list.LT Environmental, an environmental and engineer-

ing firm, also made the list in its first year participating, and that makes president Tom Murphy happy.

“We’re very proud, obviously,” Murphy said ”It shows our culture and philosophy of business translates to employees. We’re serious about balancing work and life.”

Murphy said the company has 92 employees, with 82 of them in the Denver metro area.

”They work very hard and are dedicated to helping LT become successful, and their dedication shows,” he said.

More than 54,000 employees from 178 Denver metro area employers completed the survey, which had them rank a host of factors, including leadership confidence, employee direction, worker appreciation, business values and ethics, encouragement from management, management competence, and pay and benefits.

While The Post used the employees’ results to rank the places people like to work, some employers are us-ing the results for their own benefit.

“We are digging through results now, looking for ar-eas we need to improve on,” Deven said.

14 Arvada Press June 14, 2012

14-WATER-COLOR

Home conservation takes center stage in a drought year By Glenn Wallace [email protected]

“Use Only What You Need.”The tag line is written on several billboards that dot the Denver metro area. They

are part of Denver Water’s ongoing water conservation campaign, asking residents to water less and water smarter this sum-mer.

Denver Water, which provides water to 1.3 million customers in the metro area, is not alone in putting effort into public-awareness campaigns concern-ing water conservation. Earlier this year Gov. John Hickenlooper declared 2012 to be the Year of Water for the state. Colo-rado’s U.S. senators, Mark Udall and Mi-chael Bennet, followed suit, having the Senate recognize the state’s Year of Water declaration.

The Senate resolution tells a bit about why H2O is garnering all this attention: the

state’s population is predicted to double by 2050, while water supplies are not. And so “educating the public about limited water resources will be critical in meeting the increasing demands placed on water in the future.”

Water conservation is needed in the present as well, according to Denver Water spokeswoman Stacy Chesney.

“This year really is different. The 2002 drought was rough, and this looks similar,” Chesney said.

It is perhaps fi tting that Colorado’s Year of Water is also going to be a year of drought. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conser-vation Service reported in May that mountain snowpack is at its second lowest level in the 45-year historical record. Add to that an unseasonably warm and dry spring, and the state is facing serious drought conditions.

“Our water reserves are in pretty good shape right now, but this could be the fi rst in a series of dry years,” Chesney said.

Denver Water takes several approaches to encourage water conservation, in-cluding a a lighthearted “Use Only What You Need” pledge: “I pledge to practice tough lawn love and give it a little less water. I pledge to stop every running toilet I see with a fl ying drop kick.”

Less lighthearted is Denver Water’s mandatory summer watering restritions, which have been in place since 2002. If 2013 is also dry, the water district could

have to initiate even greater restrictions. Violators could face steep fi nes, and have a fl ow restrictor applied or suspension of water service. Water utilities across the Front Range threaten similar measures to wasteful water users.

Conservation tipsLuckily for homeowners, help is plentiful for conservation for saving water in-

side and out. The city of Golden claims a family of four can save 50,000 to 100,000 gallons of water per year by following a list of suggestions printed in a brochure that is avail-able on the city’s website, www.cityofgolden.net.

Golden and other Front Range cities have partnered with the non-profi t Center for Re-Source Conservation (CRS) to offer free sprin-kler inspections, Xeri-scape seminars and drip-line irrigation equipment at reduced costs.

“Our goal is to give them resources and options to fi t their lives better,” said Golden Sustainability Manager Theresa Worsham. “We’re being strategic about (water conservation), and we know that the biggest bang for our buck is in outdoor irrigation,”

The term xeriscaping was actually coined by Denver Water, which still offers a free ”Water Wise Handbook” for planting drought-resistant gardens. For homeown-ers with lawns, the Denver Water website, www.denverwater.org, states mandatory water guidelines (see sidebar). Surrounding water utilities, including Engelwood, currently recommend those guidelines.

“We haven’t handed out many fi nes,” Chesney said. “Most of the time, it’s just a matter of educating people. No one likes wasting money.”

And in Colorado, water is money.

The year of (less) water

WATERING TIPS

How to cut down on water use during drought conditions

• Water lawns and gardens during cooler times of the day — never between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

• Water no more than three days per week.

• Do not allow water to pool in gutters, streets and alleys.

• Do not let sprinklers “water” concrete and asphalt.

• Repair leaking sprinkler systems within 10 days.

• Do not irrigate while it is raining or during high winds.

• Use a hose nozzle with a shut-off valve when washing your car.

For more conservation tips, rebate information or Xericscape guidance call 303-628-6343, or go to www.denverwater.org/Conservation/TipsTools/.

and gardens during cooler times of the day — never between

Editor’s Note: This story is part of an ongoing series exploring the importance and future of water in our region. In coming weeks, we’ll explore recreational use of water.

W ith below average snowpack this year and above average temperatures, water restrictions and conservation techniques have become a hot topic around the metro area. Photo by Justin Sagarsee

14 Arvada Press June 21, 2012

14-COLOR-WATER

Keen on conservationBusinesses, government seek ways to save water

By Darin [email protected]

Exercising water con-servation methods is a fact of life for Coloradans, but for Jim Beetham, it is serious business.

As the owner of A Bet-ter Carwash, Beetham has taken major steps to re-duce the amount of water people use to wash their cars.

According to the Inter-national Carwash Asso-ciation, nearly 140 gallons of water is wasted when people wash their cars at home. Beetham said that is more than half the water used for a single vehicle at his carwash locations in Golden and Arvada.

He said his operations reclaim nearly 20 percent of the water used during each car wash, then filter and reuse it during the same wash cycle.

“There are things about being in this business that make us want to protect the environment,” he said. “People are going to get their cars clean whether there’s a drought or not, and if they do it at home, they’re wasting water. Here, we’re conserving water.”

Beetham is not alone. As the state faces an increased demand for water resources in coming years, business-es, municipalities and government organizations are looking for innovative ways to cut their usage, and to increase supply.

Colorado’s 2010 Statewide Water Supply Initiative report, which analyzed the state’s current and future water needs, found that the state currently produces an average of 16 million acre feet per year, but estimates the state may need an additional 600,000 to 1 million acre feet per year by 2050 to match the demand.

One way researchers are pursuing to increase supply on a small scale is through cloud seeding, the process of dis-persing substances, such as silver iodide or liquid propane, into the air to stimulate cloud changes and increase precipitation. Although it has been practiced statewide since the 1950s, new remote-controlled cloud-seeding machines show promise.

Joe Busto, who manages the state’s cloud-seeding operation for the Colorado

Water Conservation Board, said these machines can shoot four times more silver iodide nuclei into the air, taking advantage of storms to boost precipitation.

“You talk more about it in a drought, but the time to really work is during wet years. You need a storm to come through to actually seed it,” Busto said. “You can’t cloud seed your way out of a drought, but you can add a few percentage points to snowpacks, so it’s more like an annual tool in your portfolio to help out.”

Golden-based MillerCoors, which needs water to brew beer, has been making strides to reduce the

amount of water it uses and repurpose at last some of that water.

When MillerCoors began monitoring its water con-servation efforts in 2008, the company recorded a us-age of 4.1 barrels of water per barrel of beer. By 2015, company officials say, MillerCoors aims to decrease its water-efficiency ratio to 3.5 barrels of water to 1 barrel of beer.

To achieve this goal, the company has installed a wa-ter-efficient pasteurizer at the Jacob Leinenkugel Brew-ing Company in Chippewa Falls, Wis., and equipment in its Milwaukee brewery to cool and reuse water for bottle pasteurization.

“Water is our most important resource and key to a secure future for our business and the communities where we operate,” former MillerCoors Chief Executive Officer Leo Kiely said when the comany was ramping up effort in 2010. “For years, our goal has been to brew and package more beer while using less water. Given our roots near the Rocky Mountains and on the shores of Lake Michigan, we are mindful of our environmental footprint and take water very seriously.”

Water conservation and reclamation in the carwash industry has become big business practice. A Better Carwash in Arvada and Golden uses a Kärcher wash system in conjunction with an AquaChem Recovery System to maximize the use of reclaimed water to reduce waste at the facility. The business has been using the system since it opened three years ago. Photo by Justin Sagarsee

The flow chart above shows how the AquaChem Filtration Process, used be A Better Carwash, reclaims and filters water for reuse during the washing cycle. AquaChem �ow chart

Carwash reclamation �ow chart

Editor’s Note: This story is part of an ongoing series exploring the importance and future of water in our region. In coming weeks, we’ll explore recreational use, as well as security and enforcement of water quality.

14 Arvada Press July 5, 2012

14-COLOR-WATER

By Clarke Reader [email protected]

Watersports are a quintessen-tial summer activity, and though Colorado has much

to offer for all manner of recreation on and in the water, those uses are closely managed.

Many of the bodies of water in the Denver metro area do double duty, providing space for summer fun but also supplying water for residential and business use. At Standley Lake, for example, the water and what goes into it, such as boats, are continu-ally monitored for contaminants. And, in a summer as hot and dry as the state is currently experiencing, water has to be diverted from some recreation locations for other uses.

Water CleanlinessAt Standley Lake, the integrity of the water is of

utmost importance. No swimming is allowed, and all watercraft must be cleaned before they can enter the water.

The number of watercraft and how powerful they are is also tightly controlled. According to Holly Wal-ters, a park ranger at the reservoir, all boats with motors

over 20 horsepower must have a permit for the season, which costs $850 for residents and $950 for nonresidents. Those who get a permit are chosen by lottery, and all 550 permits that are allotted for each summer season typically sell out.

Sailboats, canoes and kayaks are also allowed on the water,

but with a daily permit as opposed to a season-long one.

Regardless of the type of vessel, each must go through a cleaning process before it can enter the lake.

“We have one of the most stringent ANS (Aquatic Nuisance Species) protection programs in the state,” Walters said. “All motor boats go through a full quar-antine of 11 days, where they are decontaminated with no chemicals used, the tanks are fl ushed and fully washed down.

Need and recreationWater recreation afi cionados have a multitude of

options in the area, from fi shing and water-skiing at Standley Lake and Bear Creek Lake Park, to water parks like Water World in Federal Heights and The Splash at Fossil Trace in Golden, as well as a wide

range of golf courses — all of which require a lot of water to maintain.

This summer, many of these activities could see a drop in their water level as it is funneled away for other uses.

“All the water has rights to it,” said Drew Sprafke, a regional parks supervisor for Bear Creek Lake Park, which has three separate lakes — Bear Creek Lake res-ervoir, Big Soda Lake and Little Soda Lake. “We’re al-ready seeing a big drop, as water is called away.”

Each of the bodies of water allow for different things. The reservoir is a place for shoreline fi shing and motor-boating, while Big Soda Lake has a public swim beach and marina for nonmotorized boat rentals. Little Soda Lake is leased from the city of Lakewood by Club Soda water ski school. According to Sprafke, most of the water rights to the three lakes go through Denver Wa-ter, and in years like 2002, Colorado’s last signifi cant drought year, Bear Creek Lake Park can see a signifi cant drop in water levels.

“It can get to the point where the swimming area gets a lot smaller, and the dock is on dry land by the end of the season if we don’t get any rain,” he said.

Chuck Blood, owner of the Club Soda water ski school, said that they have never had a summer where

Water in play Recreation waters monitored for cleanliness, use

Recreation continues on Page 15

Arvada Press 15July 5, 2012

15-COLOR

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Water in play they had to shut down, and he is hoping there will be enough water to operate for this entire summer.

Even with the dry conditions and water already being called away by those who own the rights to it, Sprafke said, the plans are to continue promoting water recre-ation at the park, especially swimming, which is the biggest draw to Bear Creek Lake Park.

“These conditions don’t change too much,” he said. “If it comes down to it, we’ll have limited swim access, but we’ll still have recreation and will manage the water as normal.”

For the Fossil Trace Golf Club and The Splash in Golden, the city has purchased water rights to make sure that the two rec-reational draws stay available.

“The water for Fossil Trace was pur-chased when the course was built,” Rod Tarullo, director of parks, recreation and golf, said. “The water is raw and untreated, and we made sure to purchase adequate water rights to maintain the course, even in drought years.”

The water used at The Splash, includ-ing the 84,000-gallon leisure pool and 294,000-gallon lap pool, is part of the larger Golden water portfolio, Tarullo said.

Water is added throughout the year to the attraction as needed.

“We’re good stewards of the resource,”

he said. “We know it is a precious com-modity and that we have to be effi cient with the use, and not waste it.”

Alex Nordness, 5, and his mother, Francesca, brace for the plunge while taking a ride down The Splash at Fossil Trace’s water slide on Friday afternoon in Golden. Residents and tourists packed the attraction to cool off as temperatures climbed into the 90s. Photo by Justin Sagarsee

WATER RECREATION SITES

Water parks:

Water World, 1800 W. 89th Ave., Federal Heights

The Splash, 3151 Illinois St., Golden

Swimming:

Big Soda Lake at Bear Creek Lake Park, 15600 W. Mor-rison Road, Lakewood

Boating:

Standley Lake, 100th Ave. and Simms St., Westminster

Bear Creek Lake Reservoir, 15600 W. Morrison Road, Lakewood

Fishing:

Standley Lake, 100th Ave. and Simms St., Westminster

Bear Creek Lake Reservoir, 15600 W. Morrison Road, Lakewood

Recreation continued from Page 14

Recreation: Clean fun at source of water stewardship

Photo on Page 14, Steve Hammer slalom skis at Soda Lake Ski School in Lakewood on June 26. Hammer, an instructor with Colorado Academy, brings students to an annual summer camp at the ski school. Photo by Justin Sagarsee

Editor’s Note:This story is part of an ongoing series exploring the impor-tance and future of water in our region.

YOUR WEEK & MORE THURSDAY/JULY 5

BOOK CLUB Thursday night book club meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 5, at the Lakewood Library. Club will read and discuss “My Sister’s Made of Light,” by Jacqueline St. Joan, who will be there to discuss her book.

FRIDAY/JULY 6

CRAFTS PROGRAM Kids will create new crafts from every-day household items, starting at 3:30 p.m. Friday, July 6, at the Arvada Library.

FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS/JULY 6-7, JULY 13-14

THEATER SHOW “Nunsense,” is the story of a show put on by the Little Sisters of Hoboken to raise money to bury sisters accidentally poisoned by the convent cook, Sister Julia (Child of God). This show is updated with new jokes, additional lyrics, two new arrangements and a brand new song. A free preview show will be Thursday, June 28. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 30, ($6 tickets); Friday, July 6; and Saturday, July 7 ($7 tickets). Dinner theater shows are at 7:30 p.m. July 13-14, and at 2 p.m. July 14. Cost is $12, or $7 for non-dinner seats. Visit www.coloradoacts.org. Show is at Colorado Acts,

9460 W. 58th Ave., Arvada. Call 303-456-6772 for dinner reservations.

SATURDAY/JULY 7

DRUM SHOW Drums Along the Rockies is at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 7, at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, 1701 Bryant St., Denver. Cost is $15 to $80. Visit any Ticketmaster outlet, or call 888-306-3786 for tickets. Group tickets available at 303-424-6396.

BAND PERFORMANCE International indie pop band Everfound will play at their former high school from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, July 7, at Two Roads Charter School in Arvada. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, June 12, and cost $12 for bleacher seats, $15 for fl oor tickets, and $25 for VIP tickets. Call 303-423-3377; tickets are available on a fi rst come, fi rst served basis and are limited. Cash or check only.

AUTHOR VISIT Eric Litwin, author of “Pete the Cat,” will get everyone singing with his fun and funny songs at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 7, at McIlvoy Park, at 58th and Wadsworth. Bring a blanket to sit on the grass for this musical, rockin’ show. Tickets are not required. Event hosted by the Arvada

Library.

SIGN LANGUAGE A 30-minute American Sign Language storytime, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 7, at the Golden Library, is designed for a preschool audience, but all ages are welcome. An interpreter will be available to translate into spoken English for hearing members of the audience.

SATURDAY/JULY 7 AND SUNDAY/JULY 8

VEGFEST COLORADO The Vegetarian Society of Colorado plans VegFest Colorado from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 7-8 at the Exhibit Hall at the Jeff erson County Fairgrounds, 15200 W. 6th Ave., Golden. VegFest is an annual health and environmental fair featuring a plant-based diet and lifestyle. Cost is $13 for both days or $8 for one day. Ages 63 and older, 17 and younger and students with a valid ID are admitted free. Call 303-460-8080 or visit www.vegfestcolorado.org.

MONDAY/JULY 9

ANIMAL RIGHTS A class titled Animal Rights, Animal Welfare and Animal Advocacy through the Ages will be taught by Doug Torza, president of Lakewood’s Misha May Foundation dog training and rescue. The class runs 7-9 p.m. Monday,

July 9, at the Center for Wholistic Health, 8600 W. 14th Ave., Lakewood. Registration is required; go to www.mishamay-foundation.org/events.html#rightsjuly.

TOP HOGS Miniature pigs extraordinaire Mudslinger, Tug and Digger will put on a trick-fi lled show at 3:30 p.m. Monday, July 9, at the Arvada Library. For all ages. Tickets required.

MONDAYS/JULY 9, JULY 16

BOYS LACROSSE The Green Mountain boys lacrosse team will host a rookie skills camp from 6-8 p.m. Monday, July 9, and Monday, July 16, at Green Mountain High School in Lakewood. This camp is designed for beginners of any age who have little or no previous lacrosse experience and will focus on the basics of lacrosse. The cost is $25 for both sessions. A lacrosse stick is the only equipment required for this camp. Sticks will be available for use at camp for those players who don’t yet have one. To register, or for information, visit www.ragingramslax.org, or email Nate Hallahan, Green Mountain boys lacrosse head coach, at [email protected].

Your Week continues on Page 16

18 Arvada Press July 19, 201218COLORWATER

Standing guard for StandleyCity provides security and

water-quality protectionBy Darin [email protected]

Tucked away in one of Westminster’s most western quadrants, the 1,000-acre Standley Lake is one of the few features that have survived over the years as the city developed and expanded.

Nearly a century ago, when the lake was built by the Brighton-based Farmer’s and Irrigation Company at the start of the 20th century, the water was primarily used by farmers as an irrigation source.

Today, water storage and ownership have expanded to include the cities of Northglenn, Thornton and Westminster, but the lake and its tributaries are still monitored through a cooperative re-lationship between these owners and municipalities along the Clear Creek watershed.

“We’re very vigilant about Standley Lake’s protection,” Westminster’s Pub-lic Works Director Mike Happe said. “It involves everything that is going on be-cause it’s not Standley Lake itself, but it also includes the entire watershed that feeds it. The lake is just one component of a bigger system that has the poten-tial to impact water quality.”

Happe said efforts to protect the lake and its surrounding watershed began in the late 1970s, when the city found upstream users discharging sew-age into Clear Creek, which feeds into Standley Lake.

Happe said this, in turn, created wa-ter -uality concerns in the form of algal growths that would emit a bad taste and smell as it died in the lake.

He said this water would then fil-ter into Northglenn, Westminster and Thornton’s water treatment plants but would still linger in the potable water

consumed by area residents. Happe said Westminster, which uses

the lake as its sole water source and owns about half of the lake’s water rights, was hit particularly hard

A decade later, Standley Lake users spearheaded an aggressive campaign ensuring water quality protections for Standley Lake. Happe said this campaign included focusing on creating a collabor-ative relationship with Clear Creek Basin municipalities to improve the quality of their effluent discharges and encourage better land use practices.

The city of Westminster then entered into an agreement with other Standley Lake users to regularly monitor and test the lake’s water quality once it was turned into a recreational area by Jefferson Coun-ty starting in the early-1990s.

Don Tripp, Westminter’s Park, Recre-ation and Libraries director, said Stand-ley Lake Regional Park is patrolled year-round, seven-days-a-week and limits the lake’s access to only 550 boat owners annually. He said the park also enforces

strict wake and wave restrictions to re-duce erosion on the lake’s shoreline and prohibits any swimming activities.

The park also established its Aquatic Nuisance Species Protection Program to prevent the introduction of invasive spe-cies, such as Zebra and Quagga mussels, shortly after the new species were first found at the Pueblo Reservoir in 2008.

Tripp said each boat is inspected by park rangers and quarantined before it touches the lake’s surface, resulting in a zero-species-introduction record so far.

“I think people should feel really good about the investment that the communi-ty makes into Standley Lake’s protection and security both as a recreational and water drinking source,” Tripp said. “The city government is very cutting edge with any and all means to improve the park system.”

Jordan Bartlett, left, and Mike Ziegler, both park rangers at Standley Lake Regional Park, patrol the lake during a shift July 11. Photo by Justin Sagarsee

CITIES, BUSINESS JOIN FORCES TO PROTECT WATERIn 2008, cities that use the Upper Clear Creek Watershed and

Standley Lake to supply potable water began creating the Standley Lake and Clear Creek Source Water Protection Plan through a Colo-rado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) grant.

This grant allowed the cities — catering to an estimated 250,000 households — to develop a source-water assessment and protec-tion plan designed to help ensure safe drinking water by controlling potential pollution risks at their source.

Source-water protection efforts in the Standley Lake/Clear Creek Watershed were based on initial Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment assessment reports. The grant also called for creation of a 23-member management team and steering committee, charged with creating the Source Water Assessment and Protection Plan. Representatives from the cities of Northglenn, Thornton and Westminster, which draw their potable water directly from Standley Lake, serve as Clear Creek Source Water Protection management members. In all, the 20-member Standley Lake and Clear Creek Source Water Protection steering committee is represented by municipali-ties and commercial properties along the Clear Creek Watershed, including Gilpin County, Molson Coors Brewing Company, Clear Creek County Public Health, and the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest.

In February 2010, the steering committee endorsed a source water protection plan, establishing a protection area similar to state-defined source water assessment areas and focusing on voluntary source water protection measures in the area.

“This source-water protection plan represents one of the more recent collaborative projects involving stakeholders throughout the

Upper Clear Creek Watershed and other areas that affect the quality of Standley Lake’s source water,” the source water protection plan’s ex-ecutive summary reads. “... this planning process allows participants to express their interests and needs with regard to water quality, and provides the opportu-nity to address all inter-ests by incorporating appropriate protection efforts into the plan.”

Primary concerns outlined in the 38-page plan include financial and water-supply risks related to potential nu-trient contamination of one or more of Standley Lake’s water sources.

The plan specifically focuses on managing nutrient loads, includ-ing phosphorous, nitrogen, and chlorophyll A, within the Upper Clear Creek Watershed. Other recommendations highlighted in the source-water protection plan include participating in an annual household chemical or hazardous materials clean-up day, conducting watershed assessments for prioritizing fire risk, implementing a community edu-cation and outreach campaign on nutrient enrichment effects, and reducing phosphorous in consumer and industrial products.

Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series exploring the importance and future of water in our region.

16 Arvada Press August 9, 201216-Color-WATER SERIES

The fight for water’s futureColorado pushes for proactive measuresBy Darin [email protected]

This year’s drought has taken a toll on many Coloradans.

According to a July 31 statewide drought-moni-tor report by the National Drought Mitigation Cen-ter, nearly 65.35 percent of the state is experiencing extreme drought conditions, characterized by “ma-jor crop and pasture losses, and widespread water restrictions or shortages.”

Consequently, municipalities, water providers and organizations statewide are teaming up to reduce drought impacts and promote sustainable water-use practices to combat expected increased water demand and predicted population growth (see related story on Page 17).

“When it comes to climate change, there’s no ques-tion that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” said Steve Fleischli, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Water and Climate Pro-gram, an environmental watchdog organization. “The sensible, practical solution is to plan ahead, before it’s too late.”

At Littleton’s city limits, the U.S. Army Corps of Engi-neers, along with 14 water providers around the state, are embarking on an $184.6 million project to increase water conservation space at Chatfield Reservoir.

The effort, which began in 1999 at the behest of for-mer Gov. Bill Owens, would redesignate 20,600 acre-feet of storage water space in Chatfield Reservoir, currently reserved specifically for flood-control purposes, to in-clude conservation purposes.

Gwyn Jarrett, Army Corps of Engineers project man-ager, said access to the newly allocated storage space should be available to water providers for consumer use in the next three to five years.

The project’s feasibility and assessment study, one of the final steps before the reallocation process begins, is expected to be completed by late December 2013.

“This project is going to meet a portion of the water demand that is needed for the Denver-metro area,” she said. “Even with this project, there will be a void to meet the expected need of the area. If it is approved, it is an important part of the solution to the rapid population growth and increased water needs that Colorado and the Denver area are facing.”

State, federal and local governments, along with wa-ter providers, are not alone in the fight to decrease water consumption.

At the Colorado State University Extension’s Adams County campus, employees and volunteers are on a mission to spread the word about xeriscaping, or land-scaping and gardening in ways that reduce water use and eliminate the need for supplemental irrigation, in-cluding choosing plants that require little water.

Behind the Waymire Building at the Adams County Fairgrounds, the CSU Extension’s Adams County cam-pus maintains a small xeric garden featuring about 200 types of plants. Master gardeners, part of a CSU-run program, created the garden to highlight the beauty and potential financial benefits of switching from wa-ter-intensive to xeric gardening methods.

“You can have a good-looking garden without having to give it a ton of water,” said Eric Hammond, a CSU Ex-tension horticulture and agriculture agent. “Any plant, regardless of how xeric it is or how much water it needs, is going to need a little water until you can get it go-ing, but once you have the plant established, it’s pretty much no maintenance.”

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, about 30 percent of the water used by the av-

erage American household is devoted to outdoor water use. What’s more, the EPA says, up to 50 percent of land-scape-water use is wasted through evaporation, wind or runoff caused by overwatering.

“Saving $20 a month on your water bill doesn’t seem like much, but if you live here for 20 years, it adds up to thousands of dollars,” Hammond said. “This drought really does remind everybody about how really dry a climate we have here and how precious of a resource water is here.”

County employees have planted a xeric garden outside the Waymire Building at the Adams County Fairgrounds. According to Denver Water, homeowners can save up to 30 to 50 percent on household water costs if they use low-water plants. Photo by Darin Moriki

Daisies light the foreground of a flower bed accented by a cobblestone drain-age bed. Xeriscape design allows for low-water consumption by combining hardscaping and the use of drought-resistant native plants that require little supplemental watering. According to Xeriscape Colorado, nearly 50 percent of residential water consumption is used for landscaping and lawns in the western U.S. Photo by Justin Sagarsee

Arvada Press 17August 9, 201217-Color-WATER SERIES

Taking action, making plansBy Darin [email protected]

Colorado is taking steps to evaluate the impact of cli-mate change on the state’s water supplies following sev-eral drought seasons.

In fact this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Colorado experi-enced its warmest June on record after temperatures rose about 6.4 degrees about average.

An Aug. 3 National Weather Service state-ment attributed this year’s drought to a “much-below-normal snowpack from last winter as well as a very dry and unseasonably warm first part of this summer.”

The abundant snow pack from the 2010-2011 winter kept reservoirs adequately supplied for

this summer. Following the 2002 drought, the driest year in Colorado’s recorded history, the state’s 2003 General Assembly charged the Colorado Water Conservation Board with implementing the Statewide Water Supply Initiative, an 18-month, basin-by-basin analysis of the state’s existing and future water needs.

Based on state population projections that show a 65 percent increase in population by 2030, and other fac-tors, study authors predict that the demand for water for municipal and industrial use will increase by 630,000 acre-feet, taking into account conservation measures legislated by the federal government.

The study indicates that municipal and industrial ex-isting supplies and identified projects and processes will be able to meet the demand through 2030.

During the same period, agricultural demand is ex-

pected to drop slightly, from more than 90 percent of the state’s water use to about 86 percent.

Another factor experts are considering as they plan for the future is that the state’s April snowpack — an im-portant source of water as it melts — could decrease by nearly 70 percent by 2070.

Ben Chou, a National Resources Defense Council water-policy analyst, said the state has done a better job than many others to address climate change and future water-supply demands by making efforts to reduce pol-lution associated with global warming and to evaluate how the Colorado River may be impacted by climate change. But, he said, Colorado should create a compre-hensive plan and look at how climate-change threats to water will impact other areas, including public health and flooding.

The graphic shown depicts Colorado’s population, ir-rigated acres and water flows. The Colorado Water Conservation Board’s Statewide Water Supply Initiative found that Colorado’s river systems generate, on aver-age, 16 million acre-feet per year of renewable water. However, the study found that an average of about two�thirds of this water leaves the state under Colorado’s compacts and decrees.

The bar graph shown depicts projected state basin-by-basin water demands tho-rugh the year 2050. The Colorado Water Conservation Board’s Statewide Water Supply Initiative found that the state will need between 600,000 and 1 million acre-feet per year of additional water to meet projected municipal and industrial needs as the state’s population continues to increase. State demographics revealed that Colorado’s population surpassed 5 million in 2008 and is expected to nearly double by 2050. Graphics courtesy of Colorado Water Conservation Board

Colorado’s future in water

AFY = Acre-feet per year

Documents

Arvada Water Series