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Colorado to vote on reservoir repairs
DENVER, Colorado (AP) -- A $2 billion bond referendum aimed at easing effects from the drought has divided Colorado, pitting the populous yet arid eastern region against the western area with its ample water supplies. If the referendum on the November 4 ballot passes, it would enable water districts, municipalities and private companies to apply for bond money to build new reservoirs, or repair or expand existing ones. The governor would have final approval on projects funded. The problem, according to some critics, is the referendum does not specify individual water projects so it is impossible to know where the money will go. Influential western Colorado politicians, lobbying groups and residents are concerned that Referendum A would enable populated areas in eastern Colorado to take their water with little regard for their future. Eastern Colorado government leaders, residents and farmers believe the referendum would help finance much-needed projects to conserve water that flows freely into Nevada and California. "If we don't pass this proposal, the status quo will remain for 10, 20 or 30 years. And every year, we will dry up more farmland," said the measure's primary champion, Republican Gov. Bill Owens.
Much of Colorado's water supply comes from rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs filled mostly by melting snow. A record drought in recent years has destroyed crops, cattle herds and forced residents across much of the state to comply with water restrictions. Residents have joined government officials in looking for solutions. One idea has been to try to preserve Colorado River water, which also supplies six other Western states including fast-growing Southern California. A 1922 agreement divides about 15 million acre-feet of water from the river among California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico. Interior Secretary Gale Norton this month signed a deal to divide water from the Colorado River -- securing water for fast-growing cities in Southern California while limiting supplies to farms. Colorado is entitled to about 3.2 million acre-feet, but only uses a portion of that because of limited storage. Environmentalists say they have no way of assessing the impact of the referendum without individual projects specified in the measure. Scott Ingvoldstad, a spokesman for referendum opponents, said plenty of water projects could be completed without Referendum A. Owens wouldn't name specific projects that could be financed with bond money, saying financial markets and users should decide which are feasible. Farmer and rancher Carlyle Currier, who lives near Molina about 170 miles west of Denver, says defeating the referendum could delay future projects because it takes years to put together financing, get the environmental and land use studies completed and convince the federal government that endangered species will be protected. "We need Referendum A because we need to get as many pieces of the puzzle in place as we can before the next drought," he said. Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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