The Water Information Program

A Gazette editorial criticizing a request by U.S. Rep. Mark Udall to slow down work on the environmental impact statement on Southern Delivery System this week indicated Colorado Springs is the ‘majority owner’ of water behind Pueblo Dam. The Colorado Springs newspaper editorial stated:  "The Southern Delivery System is a reasonable plan for Colorado Springs to obtain water it owns in Pueblo Reservoir. Don’t be fooled by the reservoir’s name: Colorado Springs is the majority owner of water stored behind the dam, and the city pays for 70 percent of the reservoir’s debt. The water is rightfully ours, but a political mover and shaker in Pueblo has made full-time sport of finding ways to deprive our city of what it owns." Actually, El Paso County users have less than 30 percent of the water stored in Lake Pueblo and do not, in fact, own it. In addition, El Paso County is paying about 27 percent Ñ not 70 percent Ñ of the total cost of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, of which Lake Pueblo is a chief component. The editorial accuses Udall of pandering to Pueblo Chieftain Publisher Bob Rawlings, the ‘mover and shaker,’ in order to gain an endorsement and Democratic votes in Pueblo.

To view the full article, visit the Pueblo Chieftain. For a copy of the original article contact the WIP at (970) 247-1302 or stop by the office at 841 East Second Avenue in Durango.