The seven people who convened the first board meeting of the Dolores Water Conservancy District, 50 years ago, knew that the key to the future depended on being able to store enough water during the spring run-off to deliver a stable supply for local farms and towns.
The events that the first DWCD Board set in motion created a legacy that exceeds what anyone in 1961 could have envisioned: The acres of land irrigated from the Dolores River have doubled from 35,000 to 70,000 acres. The dryland farm families that invested their time and money to convert to irrigated farming are producing some of the most sought-after dairy hay in the West. Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company was able to connect over a century of pioneering work to bring Dolores River water into the Montezuma Valley, and establish very senior water rights, with storage in McPhee Reservoir that extended full irrigation supplies from late July into mid-October. A reliable water supply has also created a renewal in the production of vegetable and fruit crops that are available at the ever-expanding farmers markets, which bring together producers of all generations and backgrounds.
As a result of the Dolores Project, the towns of Dove Creek, Cortez, Towaoc and Rico have access to water to support growth and economic development for the next 100 years. These domestic supplies are also providing lawn and garden water in Dove Creek and Cahone and offer back-up supplies to rural providers such as Montezuma Water Company as they expand service and steadily make water hauling a thing of the past.
1977 was a landmark year, as district voters passed the ballot measure authorizing DWCD to enter into the Dolores Project repayment contract with 95 percent support, and farm families from Yellow Jacket to Dove Creek petitioned for water for more than enough acres to make the project viable.
1977 also saw the projects biggest threat when the Dolores Project was placed on the Carter Hit List, which threatened to block its construction. What got the project back on the drawing board was the opportunity to settle Indian water rights claims. The Ute Mountain Tribal Council, Montezuma and Dolores County commissioners, local water districts, towns, the State of Colorado and congressional representatives from both parties stood shoulder to shoulder for the purpose of forging the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement and ensuring the completion of the Dolores Project. This successful effort to keep the Dolores Project moving forward is certainly one of our finest achievements, as a community, demonstrating what is possible when we all pull together. Our reward is a secure water supply, for generations to come.
Just as the founding fathers of DWCD, and the community leaders that supported them 50 years ago, had the foresight and determination to set in motion a better water future for our community, our task is to extend that vision into the next 50 years to fulfill the promise of the Dolores Project.
Michael Preston is general manager of the Dolores Water Conservancy District.