From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka):
“I’m starting to feel that on the West Slope, a bit of reality is breaking through,” Jeris Danielson told the Arkansas Basin Roundtable this week. “They’re beginning to accept the fact, and the task will be how to make it as palatable as possible.” Danielson, a former state engineer who is now general manager of the Purgatoire River Conservancy District, represents the Roundtable on the Interbasin Compact Committee, which last month looked at a tool developed by the Colorado Water Conservation Board that simulates various mixes of conservation, new supply and agricultural dry-up under varying growth scenarios…
The basin’s other representative on the IBCC was not convinced. “I don’t see any movement from the West Slope,” said Jay Winner, general manager of the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District. “I see them drawing a line on the top of the mountains.”
Wayne Vanderschuere, a Colorado Springs Utilities executive and governor’s appointee to the IBCC, agreed with Winner, but said the state model may change minds, by showing the scope of how much agriculture is at risk without a new water project.
“I think the state and (CWCB director) Jennifer Gimbel have reached out to both sides of the mountains to identify what’s realistically possible,” Vanderschuere said…
Everyone agreed there is a renewed interest in at least having the conversation about whether it’s desirable to move more water across the mountains. The roundtable’s letter to the IBCC asking for analysis of a Blue Mesa alternative and consideration of Western Slope agricultural dry-up as part of the overall strategy was given consideration, Danielson said.
More IBCC coverage here.