A yearslong effort to purchase two of the most powerful water rights on the Colorado River has cleared another hurdle after the state water board agreed to manage the rights alongside Western Slope water officials. The Colorado Water Conservation Board voted unanimously Wednesday night to accept the two water rights tied to the Shoshone Power Plant into its environmental flow program. The approval is a critical piece in the Colorado River District’s $99 million deal with the owner of the aging plant in Glenwood Canyon — Xcel Energy — but the deal has faced pushback from Front Range water providers that fear the change could impact their supplies. 

Other Shoshone Water Right news:

• Aspen Journalism (Colo.): State water board votes yes on Shoshone
• Post Independent (Glenwood Springs, Colo.): Colorado River District secures instream flow agreement for its proposed Shoshone Water Right acquisition
• Grand Junction Daily Sentinel (Colo.): State board agrees to Shoshone instream flow rights deal
• Colorado Newsline: Major water right approval could protect ample Colorado River flows
• Colorado Politics (Denver): Shoshone water rights acquisition approved by Colorado board
• Mesa County (Ariz.): News release: Commissioner Daniel helps secure Shoshone Water Protection