Water Realities Set in for Farmers: Denver Post

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er es .,Tealiti O in or se ers L SE Colo. high, dry after Kan. verdict By Patrick O'Driscoll Denver Post Staff Writer PUEBLO — The theme of the annual Ar- kansas River Basin Water Forum last week brimmed with optimism: "A River of Dreams and Realities." But as Pueblo engineer and water official Ralph Adkins told participants at lunch, "The dreaming is over and the hard, dirty work is `here." f, Signs of stress, frustration and worry are showing as one of Colorado's oldest agricul- r tural areas faces life after Kansas v. Colora- ¢: 1o. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled + ",that Colorado had for decades taken more M than its agreed upon share of the precious re source from the Arkansas River —about 107 a; billion gallons too much between 1950 and 1985, the year when Kansas sued. This year, Colorado must start giving the water back. The immediate method is a se- vere limit on the amount that farmers in the from .2,200 wells that River that tapVthe ystream sf fickle y groundwater table. Still to come are court rulings on whether, "`Colorado will have to pay monetary damages — and how much. The trail no In "I think there's gonna be a shock when the 0k bill shows up," said Ron Ascherm ofn- a secretary By Al Rocky Ford farmer and Rocky Ford Ditch Co. "I think the people ba- but they're still upset." Denvet To ically understand, Irrigation groups and water marketers are "augmenta- may hom, crambling:to buy and supply whose well's now will Bu ion" water to farmers rules, to as little speci. be limited, under new state as 25 percent of what they used to pump• to 1, apply dents; The rules, which kick in April larger wells — mostly for farm irrigation but lies, s Pol. also for some towns. Smaller livestock wells -wells aren't affected. age. 1 I r individual home Some fanners in the lower river valley, to may dying. five- county area east of Pueblo, afford to rep ce what the be -quit because they can't their wells have sucked up for years. fewer melons, onions and them, ed A "Pe ` Others may plant other irrigated vegetable crops — or else perhaps even dry- e these switch to less - thirsty ones, Land wheat others will pay for extra sup- clinic v1 ctir _Still plies and hope their crops cover the expense Un; at harvest time. Little else is certain, except that no one will t City be ,happy. you- feel is standing The sickest thing Y 's burning up, and you sor, sl of Co' out there and your crop Please see WATER on 4B ..*T ►