City Pursues Recreation Water Rights

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Wednesday, October 5th 2005 By Share Benjamin I Herald Staff Writer The city of Durango has started the nuts - and -bolts work needed to apply for recreational water rights on the Animas River. The City Council has approved spending $40,000 on a hydrologic analysis, designing a kayak course and preparing an application for recreational in- channel diversion water rights. In the next few months, after the application is put together, coun cilors will vote on whether to submit it to the Colorado Water Conservation Board. "It's not just simply filling out a form," City Manager Bob Ledger said. "There's a lot of grunt work that needs to be done." The purpose of recreational water rights is to ensure that enough water is in the river for purposes such as rafting, kayaking and other boating opportunities. "The city's interest in doing this is in recognition of the fact that river sports in this community have become a significant part of the economy and a significant part of the recreational experience," Ledger said. A kayaker paddles down the Animas River through Durango recently. The city of It was important to act now, he said, because the Colorado Water Durango has started preparatory work to Conservation Board is considering new rules with regards to such water apply for recreational water rights to protect rights and the state Legislature is considering restrictions on recreational flows through the river for kayakers, rafters in- channel diversion water rights. and other river users. But Sen. Jim Isgar, D- Hesperus, and members of the Southwest Water Conservation District say the water rights are not necessary — that there already is plenty of water in the river for recreational uses and nothing upstream threatens the amount of flow coming through Durango. If the city decides to submit an application for water rights, Isgar said he won't oppose it, but he urges the city to work with the Colorado Water Conservation Board to avoid an expensive legal battle. Several other communities in the state have successfully applied for similar water rights, but they faced significant opposition from the conservation board, and as a result, both sides have spent thousands in legal fees. "I just don't think it's necessary for Durango to file for a water right to protect the flows," Isgar said Tuesday. If the city is successful at securing recreational water rights, it must maintain a kayaking park and build a structure that measures water flow, Isgar said. "If they want to spend money doing that, I guess it's up to them," he said, adding that the city can build a kayak park without seeking water rights. Ledger recognizes that other Colorado municipalities have spent thousands of dollars obtaining water rights. So in an effort to limit Durango's expenses, Ledger has met with a Colorado Water Conservation Board representatives in hopes of finding a favorable agreement on an application and avoiding an expensive legal challenge. Later this week, he plans to meet with the Southwest Water Conservation Board, which has offered to assist in developing an application. http: / /durangoherald. comlasp- bin 1printable_article_generation. asp ?article _path= /news /05/... 10/5/2005