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., The Steamboat Pilot: The cost of water rights Page 1 of2 000237 The Steamboat Pilot The cost of water rights Council agrees to research cost of hiring water lawyer By Christine Metz, Staff Reporter Wednesday, October 15, 2003 The City Council unanimously agreed to look at the cost of hiring a lawyer in its quest to file water rights on a portion of the Yampa River. advertisement The council disagreed on whether it was too early to hire a lawyer and whether the city should continue gathering data and talking to surrounding communities. I'~: ~r .... r ~ '~I ; HlCH COUr.'TR" . J ! tVR.~I1VRE It GALLIlR'l' ,I ,j " The council received a letter Tuesday from the Routt County commissioners, stating the commissioners did not agree with city staff's recommendation to move forward with obtaining new water rights before any substantial discussion with the county and other users upstream. "For Routt County as a whole, we have concerns about the effects in-stream recreational water rights would have on the ability of the various agriculture, municipal, commercial and industrial users to meet future water demands," states the letter signed by Chairman Doug Monger. The letter also asks that the city collect more data and evaluate the regional impacts on the application before it moves forward with filing for recreational water rights. The commissioners suggested the city hold discussions with the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District, other interested water users, the upstream communities and the commissioners. Since May, the city has looked at filing for recreational water rights, which would preserve the level of flows of the Yampa River coming through the city. Councilman Paul Strong asked the council to move forward with a proposal for a lawyer to take the city through the water rights filing process. The request is intended to find out how much water attorney Glen Porzak -- who fought for recreational water rights in Golden, Vail and Breckenridge -- would charge. Strong also said the request for a proposal, or RFP, would be open to other lawyers. Most council members want to file before 2004. Strong said he has concerns about time, as well, and said the potential $100,000 or more the city would spend on water rights will seem small and insignificant 20 years from now, compared to the benefit of water rights. Councilman Loui Antonucci also agreed that council should look into hiring a lawyer, especially if the city is going out to other communities, he said. "If we are going to collect data and talk to other communities, we need to have someone out there who can explain what we are looking for. Before we go ahead, I want to hire someone," Antonucci said. Some council members agreed to the RFP but balked at the idea of hiring a lawyer now. Parks, Open Space and Recreational Services Director Chris Wilson said the city does not need to hire a special water http://www.steamboatpilot.com/sectionlfrontpage _leadlstoryprI19721 10/1512003