By Sam Metz and Felicia Fonseca, The Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY — Banks along parts of the Colorado River where water once streamed are now just caked mud and rock as climate change makes the Western U.S. hotter and drier. More than two decades of drought have done little to deter the region from […]
water rights
Posted inClimate, News, Politics and Government
Douglas County drops San Luis Valley plan for $828M idea to pipe South Platte water from Sterling
Douglas County still wants to use some of its COVID relief funds to secure future water, but may spend it to store unused South Platte River flow after dropping a controversial proposal to buy water from the San Luis Valley. The Douglas County Commissioners indicated they may help fund the major water proposal from Parker […]
Posted inWater
The Ute Mountain Ute can’t access their Colorado River water rights. Here’s how the tribal chairman is trying to change that.
A conversation about water with the Ute Mountain Ute tribal chairman
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Farms should not be a default source of water to growing Colorado cities
The seven Colorado River Basin States and stakeholders are engaging to replace an important document with a long name: The 2007 Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and the Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. These Interim Guidelines are set to expire in 2026. Over the past year, the Family Farm Alliance has […]
Posted inNews, Water
Nebraska governor signs into law plan to advance Colorado canal project
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts signed a law Monday that will allow the state to move forward with plans to build a canal in Colorado to divert water out of the South Platte River because of fears about Colorado’s increased water use. Ricketts proposed the canal project to help protect Nebraska’s water rights […]
Posted inNews, Water
Nebraska lawmakers approve proposed $500M canal in Colorado
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that would let the state build a canal in Colorado to divert water out of the South Platte River, a project steeped in fears about the Denver area’s growing water consumption. Lawmakers passed the measure with little fanfare, 42-4, and sent it to […]
Posted inNews, Outdoors
Glenwood Springs granted right to build whitewater parks after 9 years in water court
Colorado’s river recreation economy boomed in the first 10 years of recreational in-channel diversion water rights, which state lawmakers created in 2001 to protect water used for recreation. In the decade that followed, 20 communities claimed rights that kept rapids roiling in whitewater parks that became community centerpieces. But those water rights, known as RICDs […]
Posted inCartoons, Opinion
Jim Morrissey: Hey, Nebraska, about that canal you want to build…
More cartoons from The Colorado Sun.
Posted inWater
Nebraska wants to build a $500 million canal over the border. Can Colorado stop it?
Remnants of the last time the Huskers tried this, in 1894, pock the landscape of far northeastern Colorado. Experts say there’s a difference between water rights and what’s right.
Posted inEconomy, Environment, Growth, News, Politics and Government, Water
Controversial canal along South Platte River in Colorado now on Nebraska’s front burner after COVID aid windfall
By Grant Schulte, The Associated Press LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts ramped up his push Wednesday for income tax cuts, a new state prison and a $500 million canal to claim water from Colorado, arguing that the state is expected to collect more than enough revenue to pay for it all. The Republican […]