Shoshone Water Rights

caverdan said:
It could potentially go to Denver if there isn't enough runoff from a really dry year like this year. Denver draws a lot of water off the upper Colorado River. For instance Dillon reservoir is owned by Denver water.
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I believe that Denver's water western slope water rights are junior to those of Shoshone hydro, so if things get tight the water has to stay in the river rather than going east. This is why Denver and other Eastern Slope entities have quietly opposed Western Slope acquisition of the Shoshone hydro rights. However, it looks like that is going to happen, and coupled with Pitkin County's recent purchase of rights from the Twin Lakes Reservoir and Canal Company to retain flows in the Roaring Fork River, the trend has been for the Western Slope solidify its senior rights and preclude any future trans-basin diversions. This sets up some interesting growth constraints for the Front Range, since the there is not that much additional agricultural acreage on the eastern side that they can buy-and-dry, especially with the Arkansas River valley farmers now being far more strident about defending their water. Once again, we have a zero sum game in a new era of limits. Eventually a lot of the western metros will need to figure out a new economic model that does not revolve around perpetual growth. That will pose an interesting problem in the context of our current system.
 
I'm all for senior rights being somewhat reserved for some environmental flows, especially when there are really tough dry years and endangered species are at risk. Humans are not currently endangered but if we were I'd be in favor of environmental flows for us too...

I hope everyone enjoys their holiday weekend on beautiful Lake Powell. :)
 
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