Yuma County water proposal steams ahead

By Jerd Smith, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 5, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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A controversial $20 million water proposal that would keep at least 1,300 irrigation wells operating in Yuma County appeared to be winning, though absentee ballots on the two-part package had not been counted.

"They don't have the tally on absentees, yet, but it appears that both measures are passing," said Yuma County Commissioner Robin Wiley. "We feel pretty good about it. This will help secure the water supply for the long-term benefit of the citizens of Yuma County."

Last June, lawyers and farmers in Yuma County hammered out a tentative $20 million settlement designed to stop a court case and keep the wells pumping.

At issue: Flows in the North Fork of the Republican River have been harmed by the pumping of the massive wells.

Both water sources are linked to the same aquifer, and to avoid a mass well shutdown, the county agreed to buy the historic water rights of a small group of farmers whose surface water supplies in the river have been harmed.

Under Colorado water law, senior water rights are entitled to be compensated for any harm caused by junior rights, such as those controlled by well owners.

But voters in the northeast Colorado county have the final say on the deal because the county must issue bonds to raise the funds. Some local voters, however, objected to the measure, saying it amounted to a bailout of large irrigators.

But others, including a number of businesses, said the risk of a mass well shutdown, and the subsequent jolt to the economy, was simply too great to reject the measure.

Without voter approval, the case would have gone back to court, putting the future of Yuma County's thriving farm economy and the water supplies of such small communities as Wray and Yuma in doubt.

smithj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5474

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