Jackson Gulch Reservoir was full by the first of May, and Mancos Water Conservancy District Superintendent Gary Kennedy said that’s somewhat abnormal.
“That’s earlier than usual,” he said on Monday.
The lake’s allotment for irrigation is at 100 percent for the summer, he said.
The conservancy district board is still working on a title transfer of the project from the Bureau of Reclamation to the district, Kennedy said. The board also is still working on the hydro lease of the power permit at the Jackson Gulch dam. Both projects are still in the discussion phase, Kennedy said.
The hydro system at the dam has been cleaned and is set up for operation for about the next 20 years, Kennedy said. The power plant at the dam is running at 260 kilowatts per hour, which is full power and about enough for 60 houses, Kennedy said. Power from the dam goes into Southwest Colorado’s power grid and is being used locally, he said.
At the board’s May 9 meeting, member Steve Davis was reappointed to a four-year term, Kennedy said.
For this time of year, the main goal for the district is to fill the reservoir, Kennedy said. So far, things are looking good, and another storm was expected this week, he said.
“The snowpack is way above normal for this time of year,” Kennedy said.
