The Western Slope is supplying the Front Range with water at the expense of many in the region\u2019s agricultural industry.<\/p>\n
That was the sentiment of some attending the 32nd annual Water Seminar hosted by the Southwestern Water Conservation District. The seminar featured several panels on a variety of topics, including recent state legislation, drought conditions, water banks and a state water plan.<\/p>\n
Speakers addressed the controversial practice of transmountain diversions, which takes water from the Western Slope to the Front Range. The water crosses the Continental Divide.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrankly, on the Front Range, they\u2019re really not interested in depleting that aquifer; they\u2019re more interested in the transmountain diversions,\u201d Rep. Don Coram, R-Montrose said. \u201cThey haven\u2019t addressed the situations of storage; their answer is there\u2019s more water on the Western Slope than they need.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paul Kehmeier, an alfalfa farmer from the Grand Valley, amused the audience with his story about a 2012 Colorado State University study he participated in.<\/p>\n
He was paid for not watering his crop to look at deficit irrigation. He had three plots of alfalfa; one was watered three times a year, one was watered twice and the last was watered once.<\/p>\n
The Colorado Water Conservation Board also gave an update about creating the state\u2019s water plan. Gov. John Hickenlooper directed the board last year to develop the plan. A draft plan is expected to go to Hickenlooper by the end of the year.<\/p>\n