Colorado River Basin: ‘We face tough, complicated issues’ — Jim Lochhead/David Nickum #ColoradoRiver

Here’s a guest commentary written by Jim Lochhead and David Nickum that ran in The Denver Post over the weekend. Here’s an excerpt:

Conservation groups and water utilities don’t always see eye-to-eye on every water resource issue.

A case in point: Trout Unlimited and Denver Water have yet to agree on what constitutes an adequate package of protections for the Fraser River, a Colorado River tributary and stellar trout fishery that is also an important source of water for metro Denver. We’re trying to find a package of protections that keeps the river healthy while ensuring that Denver Water’s need for system reliability are met through the Moffat Firming Project.

We face tough, complicated issues. What we agree on, though, is the need to preserve the long-term health of the Fraser and Colorado Rivers, and the value of working toward collaborative solutions…

Together, our goal is a more sustainable future for Colorado. The fact is, for Colorado to prosper, the Colorado River needs to serve multiple needs and interests, from Front Range businesses to Western Slope agriculture and recreation — and do it in a future challenged by growing demands on a limited water supply.

Another truth: The only way to meet our future needs is through smart water planning and cooperation…

As Coloradans, we all have a stake in the Colorado River’s future, and while we can’t control shortages of water, we can make sure that there is no shortage of people willing to work together, listen to each other, and take innovative action to protect the health of our state’s namesake river.

More Colorado River Basin coverage here and here.