The Western Slope is supplying the Front Range with water at the expense of many in the region’s agricultural industry.
That was the sentiment of some attending the 32nd annual Water Seminar hosted by the Southwestern Water Conservation District. The seminar featured several panels on a variety of topics, including recent state legislation, drought conditions, water banks and a state water plan.
Speakers addressed the controversial practice of transmountain diversions, which takes water from the Western Slope to the Front Range. The water crosses the Continental Divide.
“Frankly, on the Front Range, they’re really not interested in depleting that aquifer; they’re more interested in the transmountain diversions,” Rep. Don Coram, R-Montrose said. “They haven’t addressed the situations of storage; their answer is there’s more water on the Western Slope than they need.”
Paul Kehmeier, an alfalfa farmer from the Grand Valley, amused the audience with his story about a 2012 Colorado State University study he participated in.
He was paid for not watering his crop to look at deficit irrigation. He had three plots of alfalfa; one was watered three times a year, one was watered twice and the last was watered once.
The Colorado Water Conservation Board also gave an update about creating the state’s water plan. Gov. John Hickenlooper directed the board last year to develop the plan. A draft plan is expected to go to Hickenlooper by the end of the year.
smueller@durangoherald.com