12/4/25

Statement of Support sent to Sky-Hi News reporter Gino Savaria.

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The Middle Park Conservation District applauds Colorado Water Conservation Board's unanimous decision to approve the proposed Shoshone water rights for acceptance into the state’s instream flow program. In the era of climatic uncertainty when year-round drought conditions are becoming the new norm, having a perpetual guarantee of water in the Colorado River is a blessing for west slope water users.

This project will protect the historical operation of these water rights, sustaining the flows of the Upper Colorado River. This, in turn, will help to protect water quality against the growing threats caused by prolonged drought through the dilution of potentially harmful pollutants, maintaining water temperatures for cold-water trout, and less algae and moss growth.  Not only does this help the environment and native fisheries, but municipalities and agricultural users also benefit.

Water in the river has far-reaching impacts beyond the river's banks.  Some  farmers and ranchers have diversion structures (headgates and water pumps) that won't see a drop of water if river flows are too low.  By maintaining consistent river flows through instream calls, these water users can rest assured that they will be able to divert their allocated water right.  

Additionally, adequate river flows are critical for riparian zone health and functioning.  If river flows are consistently low, it can negatively impact adjacent wetland habitats and the wildlife that rely on them. The ripple effect associated with wetland degradation can also be severe. Soil erosion resulting from the lack of healthy root systems can diminish water quality and harm aquatic life and downstream water users.  

It is important that this change of use—adding an instream flow component to the water rights—first proceed through water court, ensuring that no upstream decreed water rights are injured and that stream flows throughout the Upper Colorado River Basin are maintained at or above their current levels. This process should also ensure that the duration of low-flow periods decreases or, at a minimum, does not increase under the new instream flow regime. Once approved, the change will protect the flows beyond current time-limited agreements tied to the operation of the Shoshone Power Plant. When thinking about the distant future of water in our state, instream water rights will ensure that water continues to flow west when Front Range users long for more water to be diverted to the east.

 

Sincerely,

MPCD Board of Supervisors