Izixeko eziBooming Front Range zithatha amanyathelo okuqala ukwakha $500 izigidi zedama, indawo yokugcina amanzi kufuphi ne-Holy Cross Wilderness

HOMESTAKE CREEK — 100 iikhilomitha ukusuka Colorado's Entrance Vary ukukhula kwendlu, Isazinzulu sendawo uDelia Malone wemba iminwe yakhe kwimigxobhozo enesiponji kwintaba ephakamileyo kumda weHoly Cross Wilderness..

Wafumanisa, malunga 15 i-intshi phantsi komhlaba, iingcambu ezibole ngokuyinxenye, amasetyana kunye nokufuma okubandayo kwefen. Ezi zakhiwo zichwetheza amakhulu eminyaka kunye namanzi athengisa amanzi ahla ekhephuni elinyibilikayo.

UMalone uye wemba malunga 20 imingxunya ngosuku, iifens zokuhlola iU.S. Inkonzo yeHlathi, ukuphakamisa ukuqonda iindlela zendalo zokugcina amanzi - ezigcina uhlaza kunye nomsinga ohambayo 40 izigidi zabantu kulo lonke ilizwe Umlambo waseColorado I-Basin ixhomekeke ngaphakathi kobuso bokukhawuleza kobumanzi.

I-Aurora kunye neColorado Springs ziceba ukukhukula ezi fens zemigxobhozo kunye nokutshintsha indawo yokugcina ecocekileyo ngenkqubo eyenziwe ngumntu.: a $500 idama lezigidi kunye nedama eliza kufuna ukuguqulwa kwemida yasentlango.

Izixeko onke amalungelo omntu 10,000 iinyawo ze-acre a 12 iinyanga zamanzi aqukuqelayo ephuma entlango kwaye ebeya kumpompa into ebanjwa lidama, thabatha umphunga, ngendlela yamatonela angaphantsi kweentaba ukuya kumadama ahlukeneyo kunye, okokugqibela, kwimibhobho ehamba rhoqo esuka kwiimpompo zedolophu, iibhogi, iishawa kunye neendlela zokutshiza.

“Iinkqubo ezisulungekileyo ezivumela ugcino lwamanzi zilungele imeko-bume eyongezelelweyo kwimeko yemozulu yendawo eguqukayo,"Utshilo uMalone. Iintaba zethu zigqale njengeenqaba ezinkulu zamanzi. Kutheni unqwenela ukutshabalalisa loo nkqubo yokugcina ecocekileyo?"

Isithathu ixesha elide emva kokuba abasemagunyeni babulala isiphakamiso $1 Ibhiliyoni yezigidigidi zeDama leForks ezimbini ecaleni koMlambo iPlatte kumzantsi-ntshona weDenver, Indawo yokungena Izixeko ezahlukahlukeneyo kwakhona zithatha amanyathelo okuqala ekudluliseleni amanzi ongezelelweyo kwiintaba zonke. Idama labo liqulethwe ngokuyinxenye kwi-Holy Cross Wilderness, phakathi kweLeadville kunye neMinturn, iyakuncama iinkqubo ezisulungekileyo ngeenjongo zokugcina uphuhliso lwabemi kunye nokukhula kokukhula - ukusebenzisa indalo ukuthoba unxano lwabantu..

Amagosa eMetropolis athi uphuhliso oluqhubekayo lwesixeko luxhomekeke ekudluliseleni amanzi ongezelelweyo. Nangona kunjalo amanyathelo abo okuqala, iqala ngophando lwenyikima kwesi sikwindla, babe nesiphithiphithi.

Iifens zidlala umsebenzi ophambili wokuqinisekisa ukuba imilambo kunye nemilambo iyahamba emva kokunyibilika kwekhephu ebusika. Kwaye njengoko ukufudumala kwemozulu yendawo kubangela ukunyibilika kwangaphambili kunye nokunciphisa amanzi aphantsi ngaphakathi koMlambo iColorado, Imigxobhozo esulungekileyo iya ibonwa njengento ebalulekileyo ukunceda ubomi bubambe. Iinzuzo zavela ngeli xesha lasehlotyeni ngenxa yokuba iWest yanyamezela ukufudumala kwefayile, imililo yasendle nembalela.

Amaqela okusingqongileyo akhokelwa yiColorado Headwaters, Ubulungu baseSierra, Gcina iColorado kunye neWildEarth Guardian bachasa kakhulu idama kunye nedama.

Kodwa ukungena kwahluka abakhi ' umnqweno wamanzi amaninzi iya isanda. Kuzo zonke iintaba ekwakhiweni kwewebhusayithi kumathafa anothuli olugqithisileyo, iindlela kunye neengxaki zamandla zifakiwe, umdaka onzima-movers beep kunye nabachweli thwack phezu kophahla.

Oorhulumente bomthonyama sele befumene iipemethe ezigunyazisiweyo ezivumela ukwakhiwa kwezindlu ngexesha lexesha apho kwezinye iindawo kuqikelelwa ukuba kusetyenziswe amanzi phantse kabini..

Amagosa aseColorado Springs akhutshwe 3,982 Iimvume zokubethelwa kophawu lwezindlu ezitsha zokuphela konyaka 12 iinyanga, 18% inkulu kunesiqhelo ngaphezulu kweyangaphambili 5 iminyaka, ngokuhambelana nolwazi olunikezelwe kwiDenver Put up. Baqikelela abemi bangoku ngeenxa zonke 476,000 uya kuzuza 723,000 “kwi-building-out” umjikelo 2070. Oku kufuna 136,000 ukuya 159,000 iinyawo zeecre yamanzi a 12 iinyanga, Uqikelelo lwemetropolis lukhona, phezulu ukusuka 70,766 iinyawo ze-acre ngaphakathi 2019.

Amagosa aseAurora aqikelele ukuba abemi bawo 380,000 uya kuzuza 573,986 nge 2050. Bagunyazise uluntu olutsha olugqibeleleyo, enjalo ngenxa yokuba i-620-acre Painted Prairie enenkulu kune 3,100 izinto zezindlu ngaphakathi "kwe-aerotropolis" ukuba iinkokeli zaseDenver ziye zakhuthaza kufuphi ne-Denver Worldwide Airport, kunye nosetyenziso oluqikelelweyo lwamanzi lwangoku 49,811 iinyawo ze-acre a 12 iinyanga ziya kwandiswa ukuya 85,000 i-acre-inyawo kwaye ngelixa zininzi njenge 130,158 i-acre-fit ekukhuleni okuphezulu, imeko ngokukhawuleza-ukufudumala.

Ukuhambisa isabelo seColorado Springs kwi-Holy Cross Wilderness "kuyimfuneko ngokupheleleyo. Into esiyifunayo yipotifoliyo elungeleleneyo yamanzi ibonelela ngokukhetha,” watsho uPat Wells, Umphathi wamanzi weColorado Springs Utilities, ephambukisa amanzi ukusuka kude 150 miles kwaye ixhomekeke kwimithombo Colorado River Basin ngenxa 70% yemetropolis ibonelela.

Ukuba ngaba iinkokeli ezinyuliweyo kufuneka zivume ukukhula okutsha xa kujongwa imingeni yamanzi “ngumbuzo osebenzayo, into enye ababonelela ngayo abaphathi ngamaxesha onke abacinga ngayo,” watsho uWells. “Ukuba sijonga amanzi sibonelela ngeenkxalabo kulwamkelo lokusetyenziswa komhlaba?"

Ukwenza idama elitsha kraca kunye nedama elimnandi kakhulu, izixeko ziphonononga "ukunciphisa" okungazange kubonwe ngaphambili kokugrumba kunye nokuphelisa umzimba iifens ezingaphantsi komhlaba., emva koko bayirhuqe baze bayifake kwenye indawo ukuze kuvuselelwe imigxobhozo eyophukileyo. Uvavanyo kwifama esemazantsi eLeadville, amagosa athi, ingqina ukuba oku kunokuncedisa ilahleko kwimigxobhozo yaseHomestake Creek.

Oku kuyakwazi ukwenza ingxaki kwi-federal coverage echazwe ngu 1999 kwi-Inside Division kwikomkhulu lengingqi e-Denver echaza i-fens “njengengenakuphinda ithathelwe indawo.” Ukhuselo luthi "kwindawo okanye eyenye into engenye yemigxobhozo ayinakucingelwa ukuba inokwenzeka" kwaye "imizamo egxininisiweyo iya kwenziwa ukukhuthaza ukufuduswa kwamadama acetywayo ..., xa kunokwenzeka.”

Ifakwe ingca kunye namatyholo, water-laden fens blanket the Homestake Valley — wetlands stuffed with porous peat soils that obtain minerals and vitamins in groundwater. Shifting such wetlands, if tried, would require large hauling of soil blocks mixed with the fragile precision of an organ transplant to retain ecological functioning.

“We’re taking a look at what is feasible,” stated Aurora Water Supervisor Marshall Brown, who testified in Congress in regards to the reservoir final 12 iinyanga.

This push for extra mountain water “is expounded to development,” Brown stated in an interview. “Colorado is coping with lots of people who wish to transfer to Colorado. A lot of the cities are rising, coping with tendencies related to development. It’s a well-liked state, with common cities. Sonke silwa indlela esilukhathalela ngayo ulwando oluzayo kwindlela yethu.

“Izixeko kuza kufuneka zijonge ukuphuhlisa amanzi awongezelelweyo. Amanzi eColorado ngokupheleleyo kwi-Western Slope. … Ukuze kuxhaswe uphuhliso lwethambeka lwaseJapan, phakathi kwamanzi anayo kwaye angaqhubeka nokunqwenela ukubuya kwindawo abonelela ngayo amanzi asuka kwi-Western Slope.”

Ukucofa amanzi asentlango

Xa iCongress in 1980 waseka iHoly Cross Wilderness, abenzi bomthetho baquka izibonelelo ezivumela iColorado Springs, Aurora, uMgodi weNvuthondaba, Iindawo zokuhlala zeVail, Eagle Valley abasemagunyeni kunye nabanye kwintshona Colorado ukuba faucet epheleleyo 30,000 iinyawo zeecre yamanzi a 12 iinyanga. Idama lokuqala kwiHomestake Creek, yakhiwe 1968, sele kuthotyiwe ukuhamba nokuguquguquka okumsulwa.

Ngoku iU.S. Amagosa eNkonzo yeHlathi kufuneka anqume ukuba ngaba anike ukusetyenziswa okukhethekileyo ukuvumela i-Aurora kunye neColorado Springs ukuba ziqhube uvavanyo lwe-geologic ecaleni kwe-Homestake Creek - inyathelo lokuqala., ngaphandle kokuthatha inxaxheba kwababoneleli bamanzi beVail kunye neEagle Valley. Abaphathi bamahlathi bazimisele ngokuchasene novavanyo olupheleleyo lokusingqongileyo kolu vavanyo lucetywayo, esithi imingxuma egrunjiweyo emahlathini ifanelekela "ukuxolelwa ngokwezigaba" zohlobo olunikwa ngokuqhubekayo ukugrumba irhasi yefosili kunye nomsebenzi wesitrato emahlathini..

I-American Rivers kunye ne-Trout Limitless ziphakamise ingqwalasela ngokumalunga nokunqongophala kokuphononongwa.

"I-Entrance Vary oomasipala bafuna ukuqonda ukuba akukho manzi athembekileyo angaphezulu anikezelayo avela kwi-West Slope kunye ne-Colorado River Basin.. Kwaye oko bekuyinyani ngaphambi kokuba iimpembelelo zamanzi ezisuka kutshintsho lwemozulu yendawo ziye zaqukwa ekuqwalaseleni kwethu,"Umlawuli wamanyathelo e-American Rivers 'Colorado uKen Neubecker uthe. "Indawo entsha yokugcina amanzi inokuba yingozi kakhulu."

Isicwangciso samanzi esiveliswe ngurhulumente saseColorado sidwelisa uninzi lwamanzi amatsha anokubakho abonelela ngamaphulo, kunye nale nzame yokucofa amanzi oMlambo iEagle ecaleni kweHomestake Creek - apho uthethathethwano lwentsebenziswano luphefumlelweyo..

uGov. UJared Polis mva nje uthe iyakuchasa ukuphambuka kwe-trans-basin yamanzi ewonke. Nangona kunjalo iPolis yalile ukuthatha indawo kulo mzamo. “Imisebenzi yolu hlobo ihambele phambili, ngokwesiqhelo kuthatha iminyaka ukuphuhlisa kwaye kufuna uvavanyo olunzulu kunye nokuqonda iimpembelelo zabo, ke ayisiyiyo enye into esiza kujonga kuyo ngeli xesha,Unobhala wePolis uConor Cahill uthe.

Nangona kunjalo uSen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, omele amacandelo asixhenxe kulo lonke elasentshona yeColorado kunye noosihlalo borhulumente wezoLimo kunye neKomiti yeMithombo enyulu, ilugatya ngokuqinileyo ucelomngeni, novavanyo lokuba nokwenzeka, Utshilo kudliwanondlebe kwifama yakhe yeenkomo. “Ndizakulwa oku kude kube ngumphefumlo wam wokugqibela,” utshilo uDonovan.

Ukubophelela indalo kuphuhliso

IColorado ngokwesiko iye yancama indalo ukuvumela uphuhliso kunye nokukhula. Abemi balapha baye baphinda kabini ukususela ngoko 1980 ukuya kwizigidi ezihlanu.8. Ukungena Ukwahluka izixeko kunye namafama ngonyaka siphon ngaphezu 500,000 iinyawo ze-acre yamanzi (1 i-acre-foot iyalingana 325,851 iigaloni) ukusuka kwimilambo esentshona Colorado, isalathisa ngokutsha imisinga ye-Pacific iya ngasempuma ngendlela yeetonela ezingaphantsi koCahlulo lwelizwekazi.

Kwiminyaka elishumi edlulileyo, inkqubo yezemali iye yashenxa ekutsalweni kwe-asethi ukuya kubuchule obuphezulu bokusungula kunye ushishino lolonwabo nokhenketho olukhulayo - Yakhiwe ngokuncoma ubume obungaguqukiyo.

Amadama kunye namadama, ngokukhawuleza okulandelwa ngokwesiqhelo ukuvumela uphuhliso phakathi kweNtshona eyomileyo (kukho uqikelelo 37,000 amadama kwintshona yoMlambo iMississippi), ngakumbi nangakumbi awakhiwa ngenxa yokutshatyalaliswa kwamadama okubangela kwimigxobhozo kunye nendawo yokuhlala yezilwanyana zasendle.

Amanyathelo okugqibela aphambili eColorado amanzi aphunyeziwe kwindawo esemazantsi-ntshona yelizwe. Idami laseMcPhee kunye nedama elikuMlambo iDolores laphunyezwa 1985. Idama le-Animas-La Plata kunye nedama, inikwe ilayisenisi yiCongress kwi 1968, yafezwa kwi 2011.

Denver Water uzinikele 17 iminyaka yokukhangela amaphepha-mvume ngaphambi kokufumana imvume yokugqibela yomanyano ngoJulayi ukukhulisa iGross Reservoir ekhoyo kwintshona yeBoulder., ngokuphakamisa idama 131 ft - umngeni onokuthi xa ufezekisiwe uvumele ugcino lwamanzi ongezelelweyo ahanjiswe ngaphandle kweColorado River Basin.

Xa iNkampani yoKhuseleko lokusiNgqongileyo ingena 1990 wabulawa Entrance Vary imizi’ ecetywayo Two Forks Dam, amagosa acaphula “ukonakala kwemekobume okungamkelekanga.” Elo dama laliza kuhlangabezana neemfuneko zamanzi esixeko kangangeminyaka emininzi, kwaye amagosa edolophu alumkise ukuba kuya kuba nzima ukugcina abantu abongezelelweyo.

Nangona kunjalo i-Aurora ilungiselelwe ngokwakha i-a $653 isityalo sokunyanga amanzi esisigidi esenza ukusetyenziswa kwezihluzo, iikhompawundi imichiza kwaye mkhulu kuno 9,000 iibhalbhu ze-ultraviolet zokucoca kunye nokuphinda zisetyenziswe kwakhona 50 iilitha ezizigidi ngosuku. Oorhulumente bomthonyama phakathi kweDenver kunye neFort Rock baguqukela ekumpompeni amanzi angaphantsi komhlaba kwi-aquifers ukugcina uphuhliso. Le mithombo yamanzi ngoku ayivelisi manzi ngokulula. (Uphononongo lukarhulumente lufumene iitafile zamanzi zehle kakhulu 16 ft ukusukela 2008.) IFort Rock iye yacofa i-aquifers kangangoko 70% emanzini alo.

Kwaye ulondolozo lwenze amanqaku amahle, ngokunciphisa ukusetyenziswa kwamanzi esixeko ukusuka kumjikelo ophakathi 120 iilitha ngomntu ngamnye ngosuku ukuya nje kancinci 76 iigaloni eColorado Springs, ngokuhambelana nolwazi oluluncedo. (Ulimo lufuna 85% yamanzi abonelela eColorado kunye nezixeko zithatha ujongo kwiifama, nayo, njengobonelelo ukuvumela uphuhliso olongezelelweyo kunye nokukhula.)

Izilwanyana zasendle kunye nentlango

I-Holy Cross Wilderness igubungela 122,797 iihektare ngaphaya kwe-14,006-foot-foot yeNtaba yoMnqamlezo oNgcwele, indawo ikhephu kwimingxuma iintlobo ngeentlobo emnqamlezweni. Iibhere, inyamakazi, elk, lynx, ibheya, amarhanisi, iintlanzi kunye neentlobo ngeentlobo ezahlukeneyo - ezinye ezingaqhelekanga kwaye zisengozini - zihlala kwindawo.

Ngelixa imigxobhozo ikhala malunga 2% yaseNtshona, izazi ngendalo zigqibe kwelokuba 80% zeentlobo zifuna indawo yokuhlala emanzi. Kwaye ezi zamkela iintlobo ezihambelana nexhama kunye ne-elk ukuba kumacandelo eColorado ayancipha.

Umongameli waseColorado Headwaters uJerry Mallett, ukuba lilungu leMalone ecaleni kweHomestake Creek kutsha nje, uthe ukwakhiwa kwedama kunye nedama kungonakalisa iintlanzi kunye izilwanyana zasendle kwaye uya kwaphula ukhuseleko lwasentlango abaninzi baseMelika balubamba lungcwele.

“Oku kunokuba yintlekele yokulungiselela. Uninzi lwesizwe sethu sitshintshela ekuhlaziyweni nasekusetyenzisweni kwakhona kwamanzi, ngenxa yoko kutshiphu kwaye siya ngokuya sinazo izinto zokunyanga amanzi endaweni. Kwaye, Ngaba iColorado Springs kunye neAurora ziya kuphuma kula manzi 25 okanye 30 iminyaka?

“Kunokwenzeka ukuba banqwenele ukuqhubeka nokuphuhlisa. Lo mceli mngeni awuzukusombulula ingxaki yabo,” utshilo uMallett. “Kwaye ngoku silifumene ishishini lokuzonwabisa. Ukuba izixeko zinqwenela ukuqhubeka nokwakha, intle. Nangona kunjalo, fumana enye indlela yokuyenza. Kuya kufuneka bayijonge loo nto. Xa uphuhlisa, uya kufumana ugxininiso olongezelelweyo lwabatyeleli besayithi, umoya ophantsi umgangatho ophezulu, ulwaphulo-mthetho. Kufana nabo. Nangona kunjalo abanako ukuthatha izinto zethu, esithembele kuyo. Jonga wethu $60 ibhiliyoni ishishini lokuzonwabisa.”

Idabi elisisiseko malunga nendlela ekuqiniswe ngayo ukubophelela indalo sele liqalile. Ababoneleli bamanzi bayayiphikisa loo nto, kunye nokufudumala kwemozulu yendawo, ukuphakama "ukuguquguquka" kunye nokungaqiniseki kufuna ukwakhiwa kwamadama awongezelelweyo ukuze kubanjwe ukuqengqeleka kwekhephu entabeni kuyo yonke iminyaka efumileyo.. Akukacaci ukuba abahlali basezidolophini zasemanzini baya kugcina kangakanani na kwizixeko ezizinzileyo.

Ukuchasana nawo onke amadama amatsha kunye namadama, Gcina umlawuli waseColorado uGary Wockner ubala ukuba umbono "wokukhula" ugcwele abasemagunyeni kwaye uqhuba ukutshatyalaliswa kwendalo..

Colorado Springs, I-Aurora kunye namaqabane akwi-Western Slope anokuqhubeleka atyhala indawo yokugcina amanzi abonisa ukubanjwa kokukhula “okubonisa umphefumlo wembali esulungekileyo neyenkcubeko yelizwe lethu.,” Utshilo uWockner.

Amanye amaqela okusingqongileyo alungiselela umlo ogunyazisiweyo ofanele ukukhangela ilizwe elifunekayo kwizixeko, iimvume zengingqi kunye ne-federal. Abanye abazange balinganise. Iinkokeli zoLondolozo zaseColorado zalile ukuchukumisa olu tyhala lwamanzi.

Ukutshintshwa kweefensi njengokunciphisa ukuzama ukubuyisela imigxobhozo kwenye indawo “ukuze sithuthuzeleke” akufikelelwa, Igqwetha labaGcini beWildEarth uJen Pelz uthe. “Iifeni kunye nemigxobhozo eyahlukeneyo ethambileyo yokuphakama okuphezulu ithandeka kwaye iyamangalisa, umsebenzi wobugcisa owongezelelweyo kunenzululwazi, akukho nanye into esiya kuyitshintsha kwakhona. "

Amadama kunye nokuphazamiseka okucetywayo mva nje kulo lonke elase Ntshona “ziyingozi njengokuba zakhiwa kwinkulungwane eyadlulayo., kwaye ukwakha amadama ngoku ngokuqinisekileyo kukungakhathali ngenxa yokuba sonke siyazi ukuba amadama aqhawula unxibelelwano kwindawo yokuhlala yasemanzini naselunxwemeni., zibangela ukuphela kweentlobo, phazamisa inkqubo yendalo, imilambo eyomileyo kwaye yenzakalise iinkcubeko noluntu lwemveli,” watsho.

“Kufuneka siqalise ukuphelisa amadama, hayi ukwakha okongeziweyo. Lo mceli mngeni uthathwa njengenye yeendawo ezininzi apho abaphathi bamanzi bafuna ukwenza imali kumalungelo abo angaphuhliswanga okanye amalungelo kwiindleko zabantu kunye neendawo ezingqongileyo.. … Lixesha lokutsala umgca phakathi kwesanti.”

Iingcamango zoluntu malunga nemigxobhozo

Iwela kwi-U.S. INkonzo yeHlathi ukufumanisa ukuba ingaba idama kunye nomceli mngeni wedama liya kuqhubela phambili na okanye hayi.

Ukhetho luqikelelwe kwangaphambili kunokuwa malunga nokuba iColorado Springs kunye neAurora inokuqalisa ukuvavanya iiwebhusayithi zamadama ezinokubakho ecaleni kweHomestake Creek.. Ukuba uvavanyo lubonisa ukuba ukwakhiwa kwedama kunye nedama kunokwenzeka, izixeko ke zaziza kwenza isiphakamiso esifanelekileyo.

Ubungakanani bendawo yokugcina amanzi ayikamiselwa. Amagosa eMetropolis athi ugcino phakathi 6,000 kwaye 20,000 I-acre-fit inokwanela ukubamba ukuqukuqela okugqithileyo - umhla wabo wokuqala wamalungelo wamanzi ngumhla 1952, xa kuthelekiswa mncinci kwinkqubo yolwabiwo yeColorado-enokuthi impontshwe ngendlela yeetonela zangoku ukuya kumadama amakhulu kufutshane neLeadville naseSouth Park.. (I-Aurora iceba ukudibanisa indawo entsha yokugcina amanzi kumthengisi 96,000 iinyawo ze-acre zamanzi kumzantsi-mpuma weFairplay.)