In what both sides of the Continental Divide hope will be a historic settlement to their water disputes, an agreement to share water resources has been reached. The settlement comes in the midst of a large mediation effort between several water agencies aimed at solving a number of complex issues affecting the future of water in Colorado. Demands for water will increase as more and more people move into the state, and energy companies require water for development. "We hope this is the first step in what will be a much broader agreement among West Slope partners and the Front Range to address environmental, recreational and water supply needs on both sides of the Continental Divide," said Eric Kuhn, General Manager of the Colorado River District. Denver Water has agreed to transfer some of its Eagle Basin Water rights to the Colorado River Water Conservation District. In response, the river district will retire some of its rights and join with Eagle County water groups to help make possible a proposed multiple water use project near Wolcott. The settlement avoids the need for the disputes to go to the Water Court, required periodically when rights are not being used.

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