Farmers seek water audit
April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News
Friday, August 25, 2006
A coalition of northeastern Colorado farmers called on Gov. Bill Owens Thursday to order an audit of the South Platte River to ensure water laws are being enforced and water is not being stored illegally.
More than 25 farmers and ranchers gathered at the state Capitol and urged Owens to respond to a letter sent to him July 17.
Chuck Sylvester, a prominent Weld County farmer and write-in candidate for governor, said rumors are rampant in Weld, Morgan and Washington counties that water laws are being ignored and water is possibly being hoarded upstream by Front Range cities with senior water rights.
"Farmers are hemorrhaging and they're at grave risk of losing their lands and livelihoods," Sylvester said.
Dan Hopkins, spokesman for Owens, said the decision to conduct an audit will be made by the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, which has already studied the river's flow numerous times, he said.
"The governor understands the farmers' concerns, but this is more about the effects of a drought than it is about studies and audits," Hopkins said. "An audit won't create more water."
Farmers are still reeling from the state's decision to shut down more than 400 wells this spring after hundreds of fields already had been planted.
They are being forced to comply with a tough state law, enacted in 2003, requiring well users to replenish the river.
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