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  Home Page » News » Ritter Take Time On Water Transfers

Ritter: Take time on water transfers

by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau DENVER - The growing Front Range shouldn't be allowed to take more Western Slope water unless it presents a plan that's a "win-win-win" for the entire state, Gov. Bill Ritter said Tuesday.

Speaking at a conference on water and population growth, Ritter restated a water policy he's had since his first campaign for governor: look first to conservation and sharing water among cities and farmers, and to trans-basin diversions only as a last resort.

Colorado leaders are just starting to look at the demands a growing population will put on water supplies. A recent state study predicts Colorado's population will double to 10 million by 2050.

Thirty years ago, it was an era of plenty, Ritter said. Colorado had fewer than 3 million people, and three of its four major river basins were open to claims of new water rights. Today, the state has 5 million people, and only the Colorado River has unappropriated water.

"We're in an era of water scarcity and tradeoffs," Ritter said.

Ritter is likely to face a Western Slope Republican in next year's election. The leading GOP candidates are former Congressman Scott McInnis and State Sen. Josh Penry.

Penry, in an appearance at the Colorado Water Congress convention earlier this summer, criticized Ritter's administration for moving too slowly on building new water projects, saying the state needs "a renewed urgency and a renewed push to develop storage."

On Tuesday, Ritter urged water planners to slow down and ask questions about Colorado's future before dedicating more water to urban growth.

"What will Colorado and the West look like in 50 years if we continue business as usual? Is this the world that we want our children to inherit?"

Ritter did not define under what conditions he would back a transfer of water from west to east, but he said his administration would oppose it unless it improved all parts of the state.

"Our thought is we should never do that unless we find some win-win-win situation. It's really pitted two different parts of the state against each other," Ritter said. "We know we have to address it, but we're going to address it in a way that ensures we're thinking about all parts of the state."

jhanel@durangoherald.com