From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka):
The Arkansas Valley Conduit received top billing in Rep. John Salazar’s address to the Colorado Water Congress summer convention Friday. “The conduit will allow 40 communities to have clean drinking water,” said Salazar, D-Colo. “I’m very proud of that legislation.”[…]
Salazar also talked about other water issues in the state, including pending legislation to deal with pine-bark beetle destruction and successful legislation to renovate the Platoro Reservoir dam on the Conejos River in the San Luis Valley…
The congressman’s opponent for the District 3 seat in the November election, Republican Scott Tipton, spoke on the importance of water for both domestic and agricultural purposes. “Those of us in rural Colorado need to protect our water,” Tipton said. “I will stand up to keep water in the 3rd Congressional District.” Tipton also wants to work with other states in the Colorado River Compact to build new storage in Colorado at the headwaters of the river…
[State Rep. Cory Gardner of Yuma] called for a new generation of leadership for water development in Colorado, outlining a platform of water storage, alignment of federal purpose to state needs and conservation. “To provide more storage, we must start now,” Gardner said…
Friday’s speakers followed a series of state lawmakers Thursday who talked about the importance of water. Among their comments:
– “Water storage and structure is as important to the state as the highway system,” said Ellen Roberts, R-Durango.
– “You need to concern yourself with the state budget process,” said Sen. Al White, R-Hayden, saying he will continue to fight the raids on state water project loan funding.
– “We need to increase water literacy in Colorado,” said Rep. Randy Fisher, D-Fort Collins.
More Colorado water coverage here.