From The Colorado Springs Gazette (Matt Steiner):
The farm, on U.S. 85 south of Colorado Springs, had to rely on an area business family in 2013 to provide discounted water to remain operational. The crisis came after the Colorado Water Protective and Development Association announced in February that its members, including Venetucci and several area ranches, would not receive augmentation water for the year…
“The permanent water solution is just incredibly expensive,” said Mike Hannigan, executive director of the foundation. “That’s just not going to happen right now. It’s just too big a nut to crack.”
Hannigan said the foundation will need at least $2 million to buy back water rights that farm founders Nick and Bambi Venetucci sold off over the years. Eric Cefus, the foundation’s director of philanthropy, said in May that the bulk of those rights were sold to communities such as Fountain and Security-Widefield.
Hannigan and his organization are aiming to complete the buyback in about five years. Until then, they will rely on short-term leases from people and organizations such as the Venezias, who own Vintage Communities.
The Venezias have been contacted and told Hannigan that they are willing to talk about helping again in 2014, but a formal agreement has not been reached.
Hannigan said the CWPDA could offer some augmentation water for the 2014 pumping season but won’t make that decision until at least February.