Laserfiche WebLink
<br />JUN- 8-2004 TUE 03:36 PM CO WATER RES AUTHORITY <br />Dur~~c~rald Online <br /> <br />FAX NO. 3038328205 <br /> <br />84.40. SE, 0.0 mph <br /> <br />DurangoHerakt.com <br /> <br />P. 02 <br />Page 1 of2 <br /> <br />Tuesday, June 08. , <br /> <br />TIlE DUlt~~GO HERAIll <br /> <br />11~~1l'n1[ <br /> <br /> <br />I NavigatsS,iIS. ::.:J <br /> <br />News <br /> <br />June 8, 2004 <br /> <br />City water board asked to bolster river rights <br /> <br />By Patricia Miller <br />Herald Staff Writer <br /> <br /> <br />They've consulted Public Works Director Jack Rogers, who put the possibility to the Durango <br />Water Commission on Monday afternoon. <br /> <br />Rogers told the commission that, in addition to the rafters and kayakers, he had talked to Steve <br />Harris, a local water engineer who represents water interests upstream of Durango. <br /> <br />"He thinks some of his clients may object," Rogers said, though he didn't know the names of <br />Harris' clients. <br /> <br />The commission agreed to hold a workshop late in July during which all sides can make their <br />cases, and the public can comment. The City Council will be invited. <br /> <br />Rogers wants to bring experts in water-rights court cases so the commission can find out "who <br />got what in what circumstances and what the consequences were upstream." <br /> <br />He added that the commission will need to do groundwork to determine the quantity of water <br />involved, minimum reservoir levels and whether the rights should apply all year or just during <br />the active recreation season. <br /> <br />"Filing for water rights i sn't a great cost," Rogers said by phone. "There's just the cost of taking <br />it through court if an objection is filed." <br /> <br />Only public agencies can file for what is known as "recreational in-channel diversion water <br />rights." The water has to be put to beneficial use, which may be entertaimnent or environmental <br />or fishery benefits. <br /> <br />Water rights have to be nonspeculative in nature, Rogers continued, and almost anyone can <br />argue that a claim is speculative. <br /> <br />-- ug_'?I11I!J:~ssion meI11be~..C.~i~WHl?ur.~as encouraged by the experience of the city of Golden. <br /> <br />'- -....,. ,.- .-.-- .--. -'-,..-... .-'--'-. --~-_._._.. ."....... .,... <br /> <br />The city west of Denver pumped between $1.3 million and $1.7 million a vear into the ~~nnnmv . <br /> <br />I.Keyworll S.ellreh <br /> <br />[i <br /> <br />~ma.i!Jhi~J.llticle <br />~ P-ri!lrnbJ.f: \(~~lQ'!! <br /> <br />~ A A <br /> <br />CtnMa <br />R.it:e" <br />. . Guide: .. <br /> <br />