I support the Colorado River District’s attempts to purchase of the Shoshone Water Right from Xcel Energy. The $99 million price tag is to secure a large senior non-consumptive water right. This acquisition will ensure that the water stays in the river even if Xcel decides to move on from Shoshone power generation and will provide more consistent flows for recreation, agriculture, Western Slope communities and aquatic life.

The proposed deal must be accepted by the Division 5 Water Court for the Colorado Water Conservation Board to hold the right as part of Colorado’s Instream Flow Program.

The Shoshone Water Right Preservation Coalition & Campaign has robust support across Mesa, Garfield, Eagle and Summit counties, as evidenced by $57 million in fundraising from roughly 27 local and regional partners. However, to secure this critical water right, a larger base of support is needed in three important ways:

1. Let the Colorado Public Utilities Commission know that you support Xcel’s sale of this right
2. Tell the commission that you support the addition of this right into the Inflow Stream Program for the ecological and economic health of the Western Slope
3. Encourage Front Range water suppliers (Denver Water, Northern Water, Aurora, and Colorado Springs) to work amiably with the commission in preserving this critical water right for future generations

They have raised $57 million, and the rest is required to close the deal by Dec 2027. If you are directly or indirectly impacted by Western Slope water use, please share your comments.