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~ -' ". The Pueblo Chieftain Online Select file then print to print this article. Publish Date Tuesday January 01,2002 Pueblo files for recreation rights on Arkansas By DENNIS DARROW The pueblo Chieftain Pueblo took a key step Monday in its plan to transform a section of the Arkansas River into an urban river park featuring kayak and canoe runs. As expected, the city filed an application in water court seeking recreational rights for its proposed Whitewater Park. The city seeks a minimum river flow of 500 cubic feet per second from March 15 throu.gh Nov. 14 each year, considered the peak period for recreational use of tbe river. A flow of 100 cfs is being sought for the remainder of the year. "We're asking for a water right to be declared to protect the project ... so we can build a wonderful entity for the conununity," assistant city attomey Tom Florczak said Monday. Beyond the Whitewater Park, the filing is viewed as a way of simply protecting the river flow through Pueblo's city limits. It comes at a time of sharply increased interest in the river by a host of users. For months. cities and towns across the region have been scrambling to finalize their individual wish lists for the river and its water in the face of a proposal to expand Lake Plleblo. The cities and town.s are also more guarded about the river's near-term uses, given the the disclosure of a proposed purchase of Fort Lyon canal water by a private investment group. In the past, some canal water sales have led to subsequent deals where a like amount of water is actually transferred from upstream out of the Arkansas River Basin - to serve Denver Metro area cities. The river's future and the proposed Lake Pueblo expansion will be the focus of a meeting on Wednesday featuring cities, towns and also the Southeastern ColoradQ Water. Conservancy District. Florczu. said the city'will take part in the meeting along with the Pueblo Board of Water Works. Colorado Springs' utility department and numerous other interested parties. Steve Arveschoug, manager of the conservancy district, has said he's optimistic the Wednesday meeting and subse~uent talks will prove productive and lessen the need for legal battles in water court. In its "filing Monday, the city says its claim on the river flow technically dates to 1982. when the