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Ine L:SteamlJoat .t'llot: CIty asked to look at recreation water rights 000009 Page 1 of2 The Steamboat Pilot ARCHIVED STORIES City asked to look at recreation water rights By Christine Metzt Staff Reporter Thursday, MCiY 29, 2003 As the Yampa River is over-flowing its bankst the city is being asked to take steps to make sure it does not dry up. . . Unknown position. A recent state Supreme Court ruling and six-month tlme- frame brought former City Councilman Ken Brenner before the city's Parks and Rec:reatlon Commission on Wednesday night. .. advertisement He pleaded for the city to pick up the pace in its research on recreation water rights and asked the commission to look closely at the city appointed water attorneys, who have argued against some of the state's biggest recreation water rights cases. of our river." ''The time is critical to move ahead now," Brenner said. "We owe It to our chlldrent grandchildren and the people who will live here 100 years from now to persevere the integrity Having recreational water rights would establish a minimum in-stream flow in the Yampa River as It runs through Steamboatt protecting the river habitat and providing water needed for kayaking, fishing and tubing. Under the state's first-in-time, first-in-right water law, if the city received recreational water rlghtst it would not have to worry about the Yampa's water levels dropping as water rights are later acquired for developments and agricultural uses upstream. . City Councilman Steve Ivancle si:lid those water rights already are starting to be purchased. "I do think it is Important that we step up and start looking at this issue very carefully/, Ivancie said. "We all knowt especially after a drought like last year, that people are thinking and buying water. And we know what an important resource water is." On May 19, the state Supreme Court passed a 3-3 decision to recognize recreational water rights, which would allow Golden, Vail and Breckenridge to fill Its rivers for whltewater kayaking courses. . Brenner said that decision shines favorably on the city acqUiring recreational water rights. But when the state Legislature reconvenes in January, laws could be put in place that prohibit recreational water rights. That scenario' gives Steamboat a six-month window to file for water rights. . In the past two years the city has spent $90,000 on river management plans and $50,000 on river improvements. Parks arid Recreation Director Chris Wilson said his department also has been researching recreational water rights for about two years. . . The issue could get complicated for the citYt which takes water out of the river for watering its ball fields and golf courses and for making snow. . The city may oppose acquiring recreational water rights if towns upstream, such as Oak Creek, would ask for rightst http://www.steamboatpilot.com/section/archive/storypr/173 5 8 4/23/2004