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Allard backs away from Fry -Ark legislation Page 1 of 2 <br /> s• <br /> The Pueblo Chieftain Online <br /> Select file then print to print this article. <br /> Publish Date Thursday March 28th, 2002 <br /> Allard backs away from Fry -Ark legislation <br /> : <br /> Sen. Wayne Allard <br /> By MARGIE WOOD <br /> The Pueblo Chieftain <br /> U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard said Wednesday lie will not sponsor or co- sponsor House Resolution 3881, the reoperation plan of the <br /> Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District which has run into troubled waters over a dispute with the city of Pueblo. <br /> "I just have a general policy, thatunless there's strong local support for legislation, I won't support it" Allard said. <br /> City officials went to Washington, D.C., last week to express opposition to the plan, which would ensure additional water storage options <br /> for various communities and also calls for study of plans to expand Pueblo and Turquoise reservoirs. <br /> The bone of contention for the city is its application for a recreational in- channel diversion to establish a kayak course on a portion of the <br /> Arkansas near Downtown Pueblo. The city wants a guaranteed minimum flow of 100 cubic feet per second in the winter and 500 cfs in the <br /> summer. The district has said it is willing to try to supply that minimum flow but "guaranteeing" it could affect the rights of many other <br /> parties on the river. <br /> Steve Arveschoug, general manager of the conservancy district, said Allard's chief of staff Mike Bennett told him last week that the senator <br /> would not sponsor the resolution but he wouldn't oppose it, either. <br /> Allard said Wednesday he was concerned initially about the enlargement of Turquoise Reservoir, but received assurances that it had local <br /> support. <br /> "Now the city of Pueblo is opposing it, and the Bureau of Reclamation's opposition is another big obstacle. I understand that the district and <br /> the city are negotiating and I hope those talks will be fruitful," he said. <br /> "The conservancy district had led me to believe they had consensus from all parties, and they may have had it then, but it's sure falling <br /> apart now," Allard said. <br /> He said he might be able to support the bill if the various entities can resolve their differences: The bill is in the markup stage in the House <br /> now. <br /> http:// www .chieftain.com/print/thursday /news /articles /nil .htm 03/28/2002 <br />