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04 -19 -2007 08:27 FROM -DOL NATURAL RESOURCES <br />��. - - -�- - - - - - - - -- - --o -� L V . <br />3038663558 <br />uj � en i i c m <br />West Slopc legislators highly unhappy with canyon water decision <br />By GARY H ARMO N The Daily Sentinel <br />Thursday, Apr[ l 19, 2007 <br />T -850 P.002/003 <br />F -192 <br />A Western Slope legislator pleaded with the Colorado Department ofNarural Resources not to attach <br />agreement-s signed by Gunnison Valley irrigators who hoped to avoid K arin in the fight over wiiter rig hts <br />for the Black Canyoii of the Gu unison Natiwal Park. <br />"The irrigators in my basin must have the protection these stipulations provide if they ztre L0 s tt't y <br />in business," }ta.ti: Rep Kathleen Curry D- G«nnison, wrote April 11 io HaJ Sherman, i;x <br />director of the Coloni: do Department of NaTural Resources. <br />Five days later, can Monday the state tiled an obji:ciion in the Nontrose Water Court aime at g utting <br />those stipulations, which Cttirry said affect 106 families. <br />The Colorado River Water Conservation District based in Glenwood Springs expressed its "extreme <br />disappointment and Frustration" Wednesday with th filing th at "unilaterally throws a wrench" into the <br />reserved- water- righTS case in Black Canyon of the Gtit lllison National Park- <br />The state said in its filin it feared the st established "selective subordination" of water rights, <br />meaning that in certain cases, junior rights could be given priority over senior rights. <br />Colorado h.as a system ot 'prior appropriation under which senior rights have priority over junior rights. <br />Curry said in tier letter To Sherma.rt she understood the stake could "pursue litigation of the legal iti sties <br />surrounding selective subordination wit hout reversing its previous support for The irrigators in my <br />district." <br />Sherman didn't return a phone call for comment, and Rod Kuharich, executive director of the Colorado <br />Water Conservation Board, said he couldn't discuss matters related io the lawsuit over tho Black <br />Canyon's water right. K.uharich works under Sherman. <br />John Redifcr of Mesa County, chairman of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, said he couldn't <br />comment on the case. <br />` not aware, of what was done There," Redifer said. <br />It is clear, however, the Division of Wildlife, State Engineer's Office and water conservation board all <br />agencies under the NaTural Resources Department, have individual reservations about the SLl <br />he said. <br />hitp: // cox. prinithis .cIickability- com /pt/cpT?action =cpt& title = West -+�SIope- -legisla 4/19/2007 <br />