Colorado Water
 Denver Water is asking customers to observe voluntary watering restrictions for the next three months, according to the Rocky Mountain News [February 5, 2004, "Sprinkling limits urged"]. From the article, "The Denver Water Board, fearful that winter storms won't deliver enough snow to fill reservoirs, formally asked its customers Wednesday not to water their lawns in March and April...Board members also emphasized that homeowners should continue to hand-water trees and shrubs to protect root systems stressed by several years of drought...Despite the angst over the water rules, Denver Water customers have shown a willingness to conserve, using about 15 percent less water, according to Ed Pokorney, director of planning." Here's the coverage from the Denver Post [February 5, 2004, "Snow, snow everywhere, but water levels low"].
Colorado's extended drought is causing problems in the San Luis Valley according to the Rocky Mountain News [February 5, 2004, "Storm brewing over use of San Luis Valley water"]. From thea article, "Pressure over water use in the drought-plagued San Luis Valley is building and could erupt in the kind of legal battles seen along the South Platte River. Several years of drought have dropped water levels underneath the south-central Colorado valley and worsened tension between farmers and ranchers with senior water rights and those with newer claims. State and local officials hope the valley can avoid the kinds of conflicts that have left 1,500 farmers along the South Platte scrambling to find water to replace what they pump from wells. The Colorado Supreme Court last year sided with cities and farmers with surface-water rights who argued the wells are draining the Platte basin and illegally usurping their older claims. Kelly Sowards, of Manassa, said the same argument applies in the San Luis Valley. The third-generation rancher and others with senior water rights want the Rio Grande Water Conservation District to push for the regulation of wells they blame for dropping groundwater levels."
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