Ark Valley Dry-Up Looms as Real Threat: Pueblo Chieftain

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The Pueblo Chieftain Online Page 1 of 3 Resources boss planning how to protect state's water x p r Second of two parts The threat of a "call" on the Colorado River by California and other downstream states is so unprecedented that Russell George is moving to develoa I� to hea it,gff before it hannens. George, executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, has asked top members of his staff and some of the state's foremost water lawyers to meet as a Colorado River Work Group to prepare now, possibly for the worst, rather than suffer the consequences later. Under the Colorado River Compact, the upper basin states of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico are obligated to deliver 7.5 million acre -feet, based on a 10 -Year rolling avers e of 75 million.acre -feet, to the lower basin of California, Arizona and Nevada. "Thinking about the larger picture, with concerns about Lake Powell dropping (the dividing line between the upper and lower basins), we decided we needed to get out in front of this. We've never in history gotten into this predicament. We need a plan," George said. No one knows now 'lbng this drought, already in its sixth year, will last. But it has served to remind water planners that drought combined with pgpulation g)-nwth can dry up the Western United States faster than anyone thought possible. "Whether this is the end or the beginning of the drought, we need a plan for the Colorado River Compact to continue to work," George said. He and top aides Rod Kuhari�;h, executive director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, and State Engineer Hal Simpson have started meeting with a lawyers' committee. A_ bout 20 water lawyers attended the group's first two meetings, George said. They include such veteran water lawyers as David Robbins, Bill Paddock, John http: / /www. chieftain. com /print.php ?article= /editorial /1093154400/2 8/23/2004