Colorado Water
Colorado agriculture and development have long been at odds over the uses of water. Developers want to build, more people want to move here, and ranchers and farmers have been selling off water rights as agriculture has consolidated. A fairly new demand for water, whitewater parks and kayak courses, is now putting additional pressure on this scarce resource. Towns and cities along many streams are trying to establish minimum flows that will allow them to build the parks for the tourism and recreational benefit. Here's an article on the subject from the Denver Post [March 23, 2005, "Kayakers, developers at war over rivers of dreams"].
From the article, "In the past 10 years, whitewater parks have surfaced from Reno, Nev., to Fort Worth, Texas. But Colorado is the first state to allow water decrees for kayak parks. At least 15 Colorado communities have built courses since the early 1990s. Among those now seeking a water right is Chaffee County, whose officials say they are trying to protect a whitewater industry that generates $80 million a year. The Colorado Water Conservation Board, which is charged with maximizing the use of Colorado's water, has been the most persistent court opponent of kayak-park applications..."
"In most years, whitewater parks would have all the water they need. During times of drought, recreational water decrees would be among the last to get water, because they are the newest. But they worry the traditional water brokers because by having a large water right, a kayak-course owner will have a seat at the table when changes in future water use are considered. That might enable rural governments to limit development of reservoirs and water exchanges between farms and cities, critics say."
The Denver Post editorial staff wants to see HB 1177 pass and SB 62 fail according to an editorial in today's Denver Post [March 23, 2005, "Make right call on water bills"].
Update: New West Network: "With an unusually wet winter in New Mexico, experts are warning of an increase in hantavirus and plague. Hantavirus is a concern this year. Plague next year. Who knew that moisture reaped such dividends?"
5:55:52 AM 
|
|
