Western Colorado Water District Unhappy With Proposed Deal

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) - One western Colorado water district isn't on board yet with a proposed deal between Denver Water and Western Slope water interests on how to share water.

The Daily Sentinel reports the Ute Water Conservancy District says it likely wouldn't approve the agreement as it is now.

The Grand Junction-based district is concerned about the Shoshone hydropower plant's water right on the Colorado River, which is more senior than Denver Water's and helps ensure stream flows stay up. Denver Water has agreed, during specified times, to honor the plant's senior right even if the plant temporarily isn't running, but the district is concerned about what happens if the plant goes away completely.

It also doesn't like how water stored in Green Mountain Reservoir in central Colorado would be accounted for.

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