According to a Jan. 2 report by the Flaming Gorge Exploration Committee to the Colorado River District, the Flaming Gorge Pumpback Project has been the subject of regular meetings since December 2011 and the committee is wrapping up the first phase of the group's work. Additional work will depend on obtaining additional funding from the Colorado Water Conservation Board.
The committee is aware of protests by environmentalists and issues raised by their own constituency.
"Rather than focusing on a Flaming Gorge project, the committee is exploring what the attributes would be of any successful new transmountain diversion," the group wrote. "And foremost to that discussion is dealing with the uncertainties of water availability under the Colorado River Compact."
Noting that the staff could not reach an agreement of whether or not to endorse the project, the group concluded that, "At this point, we don't see the benefit of having the Flaming Gorge Committee continue ... unless the board directs otherwise, this will be the direction staff takes."
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