If mega-drought predictions come true in the next decades, proper water storage could be Colorado’s savior.
Addressing less than 10 people at the Four States Ag Expo on Saturday, March 21, Colorado Representative J. Paul Brown said his top legislative issue was water storage. He’s introduced HB 1157, a bill to study water storage on the South Platte River.
A member of the House Agriculture Committee, Brown said the bill had received broad support, even from environmentalists. He added that sending water from the state’s Western Slope via transcontinental diversion had to be addressed. Since 2010, 2.5 million acre feet of water has been sent out of state on the South Platte River, Brown said.
“We don’t have anymore water to send down,” the District 59 representative proclaimed.
Much of the American west has experienced drought-like conditions in 11 of the past 14 years. Scientists have warned the area could be entering a 35-year mega drought.
“I keep hoping that we’re getting out of the drought,” said Brown. “I’m an eternal optimist. You have to be as a farmer.”
A life-long sheep rancher in Ignacio, Colo., Brown said the worst drought he experienced came in 2002.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, but storage is the answer,” said Brown.
Brown added the agriculture committee had received lots of water concerns. He explained a balance was necessary between demands from environmentalists calling for more in-stream flow regulations, for example, and agriculture needs.
“Agriculture is the second leading industry in state at $40 billion,” said Brown. “That’s why we need to store water on the South Platte.”
During the informal agriculture summit discussion, one man questioned Environmental Protection Agency actions.
“The EPA wants a complete power grab,” responded Brown.
Indicating the federal government would control water collected in potholes if they could, Brown said the state would have to be remain vigilant against additional regulations and oversight.
“When they control water, then they control you,” Brown warned.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com