State water officials debated a controversial proposal to use two powerful Colorado River water rights to help the environment, weighing competing interests from Front Range and Western Slope water managers. Almost 100 water professionals gathered in Durango this week for a 14-hour hearing focused on the water rights tied to the Shoshone Power Plant, owned by an Xcel Energy subsidiary. … Their decision could make a historic contribution to the state’s environmental water rights program and impact how Colorado River water will flow around the state long into the future. 

Other Colorado River water rights news:

• Havasu News (Ariz.): Queen Creek renews claim on Colorado River water rights
• The Heartland Institute: Blog: Beneficial use is well defined, well understood