Protecting Colorado River flows is a win-win for agriculture, recreation

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By Merrit Linke and Hattie Johnson

Agriculture and recreation are the beating heart of Colorado’s economy and lifestyle, and both depend on the Colorado River. Together, these industries pump billions into our state’s GDP, breathing life into communities across our region. In our respective roles as stewards of irrigated agriculture and river recreation, our lives and livelihoods revolve around the river’s pulse and the precious water it provides.

Just west of the Continental Divide, where it first starts to take shape, the Colorado River is a quiet, clear stream, meandering through thousands of acres of irrigated hayfields. Deep, cold pools provide plenty of cover for crafty trout before the canyons narrow and the water begins to pick up speed, attracting adventurers to the thrill of whitewater. This river eventually becomes the lifeline for over 40 million people, but where it begins, it looks almost fragile, especially considering how essential it is for life in our state and throughout the Southwest.

At times, the interests of agriculture and recreation have seemed at odds due to our shared reliance on the river’s finite resources. However, we have found common ground in pursuing long-term solutions that protect our shared water future. Rapidly growing populations and an unpredictable climate make finding these solutions more important than ever. Whether we are providing locally grown food for communities across the state or ensuring access to recreational experiences that are emblematic of our state, we all need a healthy Colorado River.

That’s why we stand united with the Colorado River District to secure and permanently protect the water rights associated with the Shoshone Hydroelectric Plant in Glenwood Canyon. A steady river flow is essential for both our industries.

For us and many others, the Shoshone rights are more than just water — they’re a guarantee. For over 100 years, the Shoshone water rights have kept water flowing westward from the Colorado River’s headwaters in Grand County to Glenwood Canyon and beyond. These rights are among the most senior on the river and they are entirely non-consumptive — meaning that every drop of water that is diverted to produce hydropower returns to the river. By ensuring their continuity, even amidst challenges like wildfires and rockfalls, we protect 250 miles of river and countless livelihoods from Greeley to Grand Junction.

To sustain the Colorado River as we know it, the Colorado River District, representing a growing coalition of West Slope governments and water entities, has agreed to purchase water rights from their current owner, Public Service Company of Colorado, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy, for $99 million and protect them in perpetuity.

The broad-based coalition has raised over $55 million so far and continues to raise the necessary funds to complete the purchase. Meanwhile, the Colorado River District is working closely with the Colorado River Water Conservation Board to attach a beneficial instream flow use to the water rights so the river’s historical flows can be preserved in perpetuity.

As our industries grapple with shorter winters, reduced snowpacks, and earlier, hotter summers, permanency for the Shoshone water rights will provide reliability rare to both our industries. We need solutions that protect the health of the Colorado River not just this decade or the next one, but for multiple generations. We strongly support the efforts of the Colorado River District, Xcel Energy and the State of Colorado to protect the flows of our state’s namesake river.

We want to thank all the West Slope entities, the Colorado Water Conservation Board, and the Colorado General Assembly for their strong commitment to this project, and we applaud our Congressional delegation for their recent efforts to champion this once-in-a-generation opportunity.

To learn more, please visit www.keepshoshoneflowing.org.

Merrit Linke is serving his third term as a Grand County Commissioner. He is part of a 5th-generation ranching family and a Grand County native, where he lives on the same piece of land that was homesteaded by his great-grandfather in 1883. Hattie Johnson is the Southern Rockies Restoration Director for American Whitewater, a national river conservation organization working to protect and restore America’s whitewater rivers and to enhance opportunities to enjoy them safely.

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Protecting Colorado River flows is a win-win for agriculture, recreation

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