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

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The Pueblo Chieftain Online Page 2 of 3 She and 1:A_Mi r, who represents the Pueblo -based Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District. Robbins represents Colorado Springs' Southern Delivery System and the Rio Grande Water Conservation District, among others. Paddock has many clients, too, including the Pueblo Board of Water Works, Colorado Springs Utilities and the Colorado Canal Co., which is controlled by Colorado Springs and Aurora. George was quick to say that the commi ee 'll ro vice only and not determine the plan, which u atel w' ater Conservation Board. "It's very informal with absolutely no decision - making, George said. He expects participating lawyers to bow out to avoid conflicts of interest if the group discussions run contrary to their clients' interests. It won't be easy to avoid at least the appearance of a conflict of interest, though. Many of the participating lawyers are in demand for their skill representing water entities that, if they can't divert Colorado River water from the Western Slope, they will look more and more to convert agricultural water rights on the Eastern Plains to municipal and industrial use. George and Simpson, the state's water resources engineer, mentioned vQLLmtar temporary arr is as ways to deliver water in a shortage crisis to urban and su ur a ulations. Those arrangements include sub r u I agree nts, water banking and other deals that allow farmers to lease or exchange water with cities without selling their water rights away forever. The state engineer will have an additional role to play. He will try to develop r or dmini �eng a d rou ht- caused " I" on the Colorado River if George s crisi esn t produce results quickly enough. "It's too soon to say what we'll have. But, yes, all of it will go to the Colorado Water Conservation Board," George said. "If we don't do anything, Hal Simpson will have to deal with a call on the river. No one thinks we're close to that yet." One thing, for certain, that none of the participants wants is to change Colorado's fundamental water law, which revolves around the doctrine of prior appropriation for honoring senior water rights before younger, junior rights. This does not mean, however, that farmers cannot voluntarily sell or lease senior rights for transfer to cities that currently don't own enough water rights to satisfy the growing urban demand. http://www.chieftain.com/print.php?article=/editorial/1093 154400/2 8/23/2004