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I Trout Unlimited supports city water bid Page 1 c6) { The Pueblo Chieftain Online Select file then print to print this article. Publish Date Wednesday March 6th, 2002 Trout Unlimited supports city water bid By PETER ROPER The Pueblo Chieftain Water law is so murky that sometimes your friends look like your enemies. Trout Unlimited is among the organizations that are listed as "objectors" to the city of Pueblo's claim for in-channel recreation water rights on the Arkansas River. But the truth is, the environmental group supports the city bid to establish a guaranteed river flow through the city to support a planned boating course. More than a dozen cities, irrigation companies, businesses and other groups have filed as objectors to the Pueblo water claim in Water Court. Trout Unlimited was among them, but Pueblo chapter President John Zupancic said the group is backing the city's claim. "We think anything that will add water to the river will help fish and boating in this region," Zupancic said Tuesday. "We've had a number of people approach us and ask why we're 'opposing' the city recreational water rights and we're not. That's just how the process works." Having filed as an objector, Trout Unlimited will be allowed to make its recommendations on the city's claim in Water Court. The planned boating course would be built as part of the Arkansas River Legacy Project, which would include constructing a kayaking course and fish ladders between the Utilicorp diversion dam and the Union Avenue Bridge. Pueblo officials have filed a claim for a minimum water flow of 500 cubic feet per second through the Downtown area of the river from March to November and a wintertime flow of 100 cfs. If successful, the city's claim for recreational water use would restrict the amount of water that could be diverted to other purposes out of Lake Pueblo. That's why other water users have filed objections to the city's claim. Most of them argue that they have senior water rights to the river that would be damaged if Pueblo is granted its claim. The other objectors are: Holbrook Mutual Irrigating Co.; Fort Lyon Canal Co.; Arkansas Valley Ditch Assoc.; Colorado Water Conservation Board; Otero County; the city of Fountain; the city of Aurora; District 67 Irrigation Canals Assoc.; State Engineer Harold Simpson; Rocky Ford Ditch Sellers Group; Excel Energy; and the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District. Other potential opponents include the Pueblo Board of Water Works and the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District. City officials have reached stipulations with those organizations that would allow them to file objections if a compromise agreement cannot be reached. 3/6/02