UAWCD awarded grant for measuring devices
By Ron Sering - Special to the Mail
Reservoirs, streams and augmentation stations within the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District will receive satellite measuring devices with help from a recent $296,724 challenge grant.
Water district general manager Terry Scanga said the Bureau of Reclamation money will go toward installation of 15 stream and reservoir measuring devices throughout the district.
Stations will be installed at six reservoirs, seven stream locations, and two augmentation stations, he said.
The stations are the first phase of a plan to begin supervisory control and data acquisition within the water district.
Upon completion, it will provide central monitoring and control of water flow from a single location.
"Acquisition stations will upload data to a satellite and in turn be transmitted to our server," Scanga, said.
The principle is similar to the process control systems used in industrial enterprises.
"Because water demands are so high, we have to move to these industrial processes," Scanga said.
Future plans call for automated gate operation to eliminate time-consuming trips for manual operation.
"A trip up to North Fork Reservoir," Scanga said, "takes hours to complete, plus the wear and tear on vehicles."
The project carries an estimated total cost of $800,000. Additional money will come from the Water Supply Reserve Account, Regional Resource Planning Group and Arkansas Basin Roundtable.
"We have to show a benefit not only to the Upper Ark, but to the state of Colorado.
"The initial data acquisition station has already been installed at North Fork Reservoir. Installation of the rest will begin right away," he said.
Bureau of Reclamation grants go to water districts, Indian tribes, and other water management entities, to initiate water conservation and efficiency measures.
Announcing recipients of recent grants, U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said, "These grants will help quench the West's thirst for water in eight states by providing money to 15 projects that will improve efficient use of existing water."
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