The trickle-down effect

‘The Great Divide’ examines the water crisis in Colorado and surrounding states

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The American West has always been an arid place, often only supplied with water running down from Colorado. But while the supply chain is the same, mounting population, as well as economic and environmental pressures, have inspired a film with a comprehensive perspective on the water issues in the state.

The Great Divide is a feature-length documentary that examines the history, relationship and water use in Colorado, and the surrounding states dependent on the snow from Colorado’s mountains.

As population increases in tandem with influences of global warming, the issues around water are at a critical point. Much of what influences the water usage in Colorado has its roots in the past, a history explored in this film.

Jim Havey, the film’s creator, is part of the Emmy-winning team known for historical documentaries about the American West, and water has been a universal theme throughout his films about Colorado.

“Water is a thread that runs through everything,” Havey says. “Water is life and Colorado is the headwater state.”

The film explores the millions of people, billions of dollars and vast wildlife that are interconnected by the necessity of Colorado’s water supply. As the demand rises for the limited supply of Colorado water, The Great Divide attempts to spread understanding and increase participation around the crucial resource.

According to the film, Colorado will have to deal with water differently to accommodate the expanding population. The film predicts the population of Colorado will double by 2050. Even more has to be done to maintain the water usage of the other states dependent on the water that originates in Colorado.

“Our water in Colorado goes to 18 downstream states…” Havey says. “That is a lot of influence throughout the West that is born out of the snows of the mountains of Colorado.”

The impact, interconnection and reliance on Colorado water sources by other states is a major focus in The Great Divide. Colorado has a lot of responsibility as the headwater state and there is a certain gravity that comes with that. The film hopes to inform the citizens of Colorado to make the right choices and engage with the issue.

“There is a misconception, I think, that people have sometimes,” Havey says, “That it is our water and as you go into it a little deeper it is not our water.”

Two-thirds of Colorado’s water goes to other states, making it an issue that goes beyond the borders of the state. Colorado is beholden to meet the water needs of other states and fulfilling that requirement can often have drastic implications.

“There was a point back just a few years ago, that Bonny Reservoir had to be dried up because the seepage and evaporation of the water in Bonny Reservoir was too much and the compact of obligations to Kansas were not being met, so the only way to satisfy that was to dry up the whole reservoir,” Havey says.

The closing of the reservoir, located near the town of Idalia close to the Kansas border, impacted not only the environment, but also recreation activities and their addition to the local economy. Colorado has a major economic reliance on water, from recreation to agriculture, but despite the importance of water in Colorado, there has been little in the way of sharing a comprehensive view of its necessity.

“I think a lot of [the film] is going to be new to the public because I think that most of us don’t have an appreciation and a lot of knowledge where our water comes from and what it takes to get it to us and the history behind how water works in Colorado,” Havey says.

The disputes and issues facing Colorado’s water are also deeply rooted in regards to the environment — the aspect of the issue that has perhaps gotten most of the attention historically.

“There is the whole environmental side of things where a lot of these engineering marvels have caused problems in the environment,” Havey says. “So environmental concerns are a very big part of the water story and making sure that we have healthy watersheds. We have had lots of wildlife and fish that are on the brink of extinction or have gone extinct because of the manipulations of nature we have performed for the sake of water. And those things are much more at the forefront of people’s considerations about water now and water policies.”

Although environmental concerns are what is most associated with water rights and issues, water is important to every aspect of Colorado society.

“Everyone has their interests in water,” Havey says. “There’s agricultural water, industrial, municipal, recreational flows and instream flows to keep the watersheds healthy. So there is a variety of interests.”

With the water in Colorado being such an important factor for various industries and interest groups there is, according to Havey, a progressive collaboration around how to best meet everyone’s needs.

“We are past the point where anyone can take water for one use or another without having to satisfy all these other voices that are part of the conversation,” says Havey. “There is much more conversation and much more collaboration and cooperation around water issues than there ever has been.”

Havey and his team premiered the film on Aug. 6 in Denver and proceeds from the event will allow the production company to place 2,000 DVDs in public and school libraries across the state without charge.

The documentary will air on 9News’ Channel 20 on Aug. 31 at 7:00 p.m. in addition to screenings in 10 different cities from August to November across Colorado. For those who wish to delve deeper into water issues, beyond what the film emphasizes, there is a companion book of the same name by Stephen Grace.