Aurora OKs Otero Water Agreement: Pueblo Chieftain

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of 1% Aurora As Otero water agreement http:// www .chieftain.com/print/wednesday /news /articles /nil.htm The Pueblo Chieftain Online Select rile then print to print this article. Publish Date Wednesday October 31, 2001 Steve Arveschoug Doug Kemper Aurora OKs Otero water agreement By MARY JEAN PORTER The Pueblo Chieftain The Aurora City Council on Monday unanimously approved two agreements involving water in the Arkansas River basin. The first is an agreement between Aurora and Otero County that will provide mitigation for past and proposed sales of Rocky Ford Ditch water. The second is between Aurora and the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District and involves Aurora's use of excess storage space in the Fryingpan - Arkansas Project. Steve Arveschoug, manager of the conservancy district, said the Otero County agreement represents months of negotiations and hard work, and sends a signal to entities wanting to remove water from the Arkansas basin. "From my perspective, it's very important that Aurora has resolved the issues with Otero County and come to an agreement on a mitigation package," he said. "It's a very important part of managing water in the basin, and sends a message to those who want to buy and transfer water out of the basin that at least there is the expectation that they will offer mitigation, even though it's not required by law." The Aurora council's approval of the agreement with the conservancy district means the district now has a foundation for addressing issues in Washington, D.C., and at home in the Rocky Ford Ditch transfer and exchange cases, he said. "In a broader sense, there are issues with the City of Pueblo that need to be resolved, then we are ready to go to Washington to indicate basinwide support (for the proposed dam and reservoir enlargements)." Doug Kemper, acting director of utilities for Aurora, said, "The message we are trying to send is the 1 of 2 10/31/013:07 PM