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JUN 8 -2004 TUE 03:36 PM 00 WATER RES AUTHORITY FAX N0, 3038328205 <br />Durva . Online <br />84.4° - SE, 0.0 mph DurangoHerald.com <br />P. 02 <br />News "Py Ncrl Search C <br />Page 1 of 2 <br />Tuesday, June 08, <br />4nr. Gail �rf�nnr. 3 J .1 <br />spa <br />W�;.a_. ...;,tiaaS�.fi A.,Jf�..,�.,� f ..��_:_. ...:._., n,.., a�. ��, a: �, �t, ���, 1k; C`.,.}., k; t i�� 'tf_:._._�:,J.��'.,,��M,..�r � �.X�_.._�`�, <br />Navigate Site <br />Jane S, 2004 <br />Email This article <br />City water board asked to bolster river rights P- aut.&Q%v rs ion <br />A A A <br />By Patricia Miller <br />Herald Staff Writer — -- -- <br />Rafters and Ka akers are encoura in the city to secure additional water rights in the Animas <br />River to keep water levels high and in better s pe f or their businesses. <br />They've consulted Public Works Director Jack Rogers, who put the possibility to the Durango <br />Water Commission on Monday afternoon. <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 />"He thinks some of his clients may object," Rogers said, though he didn't know the names of <br />Harris' clients. <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 />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 />A r <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 />"Filing for water rights isn'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 />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 entertainment or environmental <br />or fishery benefits. <br />Water rights have to be nonspeculative in nature, Rogers continued, and almost anyone can <br />argue that a claim is speculative. <br />Commission mernber Chris Wilbur was encouraged by the experience of the city of Golden. <br />The city west of Denver pumped between $1.3 Trillion and $1,7 million a vear into the annnnmv <br />