John Sproul, the Manager of the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, is upbeat in the latest (January 2014) "Rio Bosque News". About winter water, Sproul reports:
"At Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, the wet season is here. Water is flowing the length of the old river channel in the park. The wetland areas are flooded. Over 2,500 waterfowl are present. It's a great time to visit Rio Bosque!
"On Nov 3, ElPaso Water Utilities (EPWU) began discharging treated water from the Roberto Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Riverside Drain, through which El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1 (El Paso No. 1) delivers it to the park. Then, on Nov 19, El Paso No. 1 opened the new turnout on the Riverside Canal, sending water fro the first time directly from the canal to the park. Thanks go to El Paso No. 1 and EPWU for making water from these sources available.
"Once the 2014 irrigation season begins, these flows will end; the park will again be largely dry. But as the year progresses, that could change. The new turnout is performing well. If we identify water rights holders willing to assign irrigation water to the park, the turnout makes delivery of that water possible. Also at its Nov 13 meeting, El Paso's Public Service Board gave EPWU the go-ahead to put the planned pipeline from the Bustamante Plan to the park out for bid. Once built, the pipeline will enable water deliveries to the park year-round."
To read all of the newsletter, go HERE. You will find information about events and volunteer opportunities at the park and how you can join and contribute to the Friends of the Rio Bosque.
One hopes that the news will continue to be rosy. There are some concerns:
One week until the next PSB meeting and there is still no bid out for the pipeline from the Bustamante plant to the Bosque. This means that PSB action may not come until February or March and construction 3 months after that. This could mean no water until August. Is there a backdoor deal between EPWU and El Paso No. 1 to stall construction until after the coming irrigation season in order for the El Paso No. 1 to continue to get the extra effluent this year as the drought continues - free of charge, of course.
The current TCEQ permit for the Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant expires in September of this year. Will the renewal contain the third outflow as needed for watering the Bosque?
"The proof is in the pudding." That's what I said to EPWU CEO John Balliew after the last PSB meeting. Let's hope that Mr. Sproul continues to get good news. A healthy, greening, wildlife abundant Bosque is good for our environment, our health and our economy.
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Thank you for keeping the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park on the front burner. With 372 acres, the Rio Bosque is El Paso’s largest park. Currently it is not living up to its spectacular potential to bring tourist to El Paso and it is handicapped as an education resource because the wetlands has been dry 90% of the time for the last 12 years. The Rio Bosque is located directly downstream and adjacent to the Bustamante Waste Water Treatment Plant. The clear, simple solution is for effluent to water the Park while the Park helps to clean the effluent. What does it take to make it happen?
ReplyDeletejudy