GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (KREX) — The almighty Colorado River has supported civilizations across several states for centuries. But with so much demand for this precious element, who controls its water remains a battle.
The Shoshone water rights were established more than a hundred years ago in Glenwood Canyon. A roughly two-mile canal splits and feeds a section of the Colorado River into a hydroelectric power plant owned by Xcel.
Garfield County Commissioner John Martin tells Western Slope Now Garfield, Grand, Summit, Eagle, and Mesa Counties are now teaming up to purchase the Shoshone Water Rights from Xcel for 99 million dollars.
Martin tells Western Slope Now the coalition is 39 to 40 million short at the moment - they have to raise the 99 million and have it available for transfer by 2026.
Former Chief Engineer for the Colorado River District David Merritt says since it's one of the oldest water rights in Colorado, whoever owns this small section controls the spice of life flowing all the way to California.
David and Martin say they fear if Denver or an eastern slope entity buys the Shoshone water rights, they could try to turn it into a consumptive right, meaning the water wouldn't go back into the river for us to use downstream.
Glenwood Springs Mayor Ingrid Wussow tells Western Slope Now the city also contributed two million dollars to help preserve the recreational and economic benefits the town gets from the Colorado River.
Talbott's Mountain Gold Farm Manager Bruce Talbott in Palisade tells Western Slope Now most of the river is used for power generation or recreation until it gets to the Grand Valley, where almost all of the water is used for agriculture, and a little for municipality consumption.
When water is taken out at any point from the river and the water drops below a certain threshold, certain reservoirs must drain into the river to make up for the loss.
Mesa County uses Blue Mesa, Green Mountain, Ruedi Reservoir, and Grand Lake.
Martin warns if the 1925 Compact between California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado is broken, the federal government would control all of the water and try to satisfy the largest voice - either California, or Denver, and leave us here in western Colorado out to dry.
Should Lake Powell and Lake Mead both go dry, the compact fails. Martin says if Mesa, Grand, and other counties can't buy the Shoshone Rights by 2026, the compact could also be in jeopardy.
As former Colorado Congressman Wayne Aspinall first said decades ago…when you touch water in the west, you touch everything.