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<br />A couple of the key observations made in all the presentations were (1) that the major water providers in . <br />the region must be involved and (2) everyone must drop their often long standing positions and do what is <br />right for the community as a whole. If the big guys do not help, the chances for success are greatly <br />diminished. Until the group decides how they want to organize, there is not anything for staff to do <br />except assist in answering their questions. <br /> <br />Jeffco Oks District To Obtain Water: On Dec. 14 Jefferson County Commissioners approved a special <br />district to use private financing to buy, transport and sell water wholesale to providers. Because the <br />district has private backing, it won't use voter-approved mill levies or taxes, as most special districts do, <br />but it will have powers such as eminent domain. The district will be called the Heritage Resource <br />Metropolitan District. <br /> <br />Greg Stevinson, developer and chief executive of Denver West Realty, and water lawyer Chris Paulson <br />are behind the district, which they say gives Jefferson County a better seat at the water-politics table. <br /> <br />Most of Jefferson County currently buys water from Denver Water, other districts and private companies. <br /> <br />The district will name board members with water financing and use expertise and operate "the same way <br />the county does" in regard to meeting notices, audit and budget filings, and an annual report to the county. <br /> <br />The district will not annex any part of another special district, will not provide water to existing water <br />districts unless asked, and will not provide water directly to people's homes, Stevinson said. <br /> <br />The district is still working out water sources and potential customers. <br /> <br />Arapahoe-Douglas Coalition Wrangles Over Water District: On Jan. I3 about 50 south metro elected <br />leaders, water providers and contractors met to discuss legislation to establish a regional water . <br />conservation district. <br /> <br />The new entity likely would be govemed by a board made up of commissioners from Arapahoe and <br />Douglas counties, as well as representatives of a dozen water districts that supply communities including <br />Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, Parker and Castle Pines. The district's boundaries would be virtually the <br />same as those of 12 major water districts already operating in the area, but would be expandable to <br />include rural water associations. <br /> <br />South metro water officials estimate that the district will need to build $1 billion worth of projects during <br />the next 25 to 30 years to serve new residents and replace failing wells in the region. <br /> <br />Water supply options being considered for the area include: <br /> <br />. Procuring water rights on the upper South Platte River and>using Denver Water's system to treat and <br />distribute the water to south metro suburbs. <br /> <br />. Tapping a new pipeline system that will bring reused water from the lower South Platte River near Barr <br />Lake to Aurora and East Cherry Creek Valley. <br /> <br />. Securing the right to store water in Chatfield Reservoir as part of a reallocation of its existing space. <br /> <br />. Building plants to recycle existing groundwater supplies. <br /> <br />The Douglas County commission proposed a nine-member board instead of a seven-member panel, as <br />favored by others. <br /> <br />The coalition, hoping to head off a water-supply crisis, does not yet have a sponsor for the bill. <br /> <br />Last year, a bill to create a much a larger Front Range water district failed. Opponents included some in <br />the current Arapahoe-Douglas effort who thought the proposed district was too large. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />28 <br />