Western Slope communities and water agencies want to be able to use powerful Colorado River water rights tied to the Shoshone Power Plant to help the environment. Over 170 members of the public weighed in on the process — and all but one said they liked the idea. The Colorado Water Conservation Board, a state water agency, gathered the public comments in preparation for a hearing about whether to incorporate the water rights into the state’s Instream Flow Program. The program aims to keep water in rivers to help aquatic and riparian ecosystems. The proposed change is part of a larger plan on the Western Slope to permanently maintain the historic flows around Shoshone. 

Other Colorado River Basin news:

• KREX (Grand Junction, Colo.): Federal funds restored for Orchard Mesa water projects, benefiting the Colorado River
• 12News (Phoenix, Ariz.): Arizona governor declares ’state of emergency’ after Oxbow Bridge collapse
• Scientia: Blog: Running on empty – climate change and the future of the Colorado River Basin