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The Pueblo Chieftain Online - Wednesday April 04; 2001 wysiwyg: // 115 / http: / /www.chieftain.com/display /archive /2001 /mar /24 /ni2.htm <br />Aurora has created growth zones and plans that <br />extend years into the future. And Aurora "wrote <br />the book" on water -free xeriscaping and requires <br />it for many developments. <br />The city also prohibits using more than 45 percent <br />bluegrass in lawns of new homes and requires all <br />new buildings to have water - efficient plumbing <br />and toilets, he said. <br />Tauer also denied that Aurora wants to buy more <br />and more water in the Arkansas River basin. He <br />said the Buena Vista pumping plant that moves <br />that water to the South Platte River drainage is <br />almost full now. <br />"We have not tried to roll the valley," he said. <br />"But some people are trying to roll us." <br />Speaking about the dispute with the conservancy <br />district, Tauer said it's foolish to pay million of <br />dollars to lawyers to fight the issue when that <br />money could be used to help Rocky Ford develop <br />a future with less farming. <br />"But we can't do that if people are not willing to <br />find solutions and seek compromise," he said. <br />Tauer also said it's unfair to blame Aurora for the <br />last 50 years of population decline in the <br />Arkansas Valley, because Aurora didn't buy any <br />water until 15 years ago. <br />But now the city must defend that water, which <br />cost $30 million to buy and develop, he said. <br />"We can't afford to give it up without a fight," he <br />said. <br />HE -mail this story to a friend <br />Print this story <br />3 of 4 4/4/014:50 PM <br />