On Aug. 16, the board of trustees at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) approved a generous donation of $500,000, made by the school, to help protect and purchase the Shoshone water rights.
This donation is a crucial asset for Western Colorado’s future water security. The scarcity of water has been an increasing issue in Colorado Mesa, with a frequency of prolonged droughts. These rights ensure a consistent flow in the river of 1,250 cubic feet per second, offering a reliable source of downriver water.
“It’s important for us to play a role in this because there is no university here and there is no thriving region without water,” said CMU President John Marshall.
CMU’s donation highlights the importance of a community wide effort to preserve natural resources that are vital to environmental and economic health.
CMU’s Hutchins Water Center has been at the front lines of this water acquisition.
“This is going to be one of the largest water transfers, I think, in the history of Colorado and the students that are a part of that water center are going to have a front row seat and a unique opportunity to watch this process,” says Board of Trustees member Tim Fry.
This water center highlights another reason the school finds it important to contribute to this goal of buying back the shoshone power plant.
This acquisition was originally established in 1902. Overtime, the significance of these rights have become increasingly essential to western Colorado after being purchased by Xcel Energy, and the implementation of a hydroelectric water plant.
Though small in terms of energy production, the Shoshone plant plays a critical role in ensuring that water continues to flow downriver. This continuous flow is particularly critical right now as communities across western Colorado rely on this resource for irrigation, livestock, agriculture and a variety of recreational activities.
There is also currently a non-consumptive, instream flow agreement with the state, regarding the Shoshone water rights. This agreement guarantees that water will continue to flow downriver, even if the Shoshone plant stops operating.
By allowing water to pass through the plant without being diverted for other uses, this arrangement ensures a healthier river and benefits the local ecosystem and economy alike.
“There is the risk that it could upset the flows of water on this side of the mountain. It could impact agricultural use. It could impact recreational use, and it could certainly impact the recovery efforts that have been in place for the endangered fish,” said Board of Trustees member Tim Fry.
Agriculture, fishing, irrigation and other outdoor recreation all rely on the river’s consistent flow; any disruptions are likely to have economic consequences.
There is already an impending scarcity of water in the Colorado River Basin. Areas like Grand Junction, as well as downstream states where our water flow is maintained such as California and Arizona, rely heavily on the flow of the Colorado River. The competition for this resource only adds to the impact of the donations made towards buying the Shoshone water rights.
Alongside CMU, several other local governments, agricultural organizations and conservation groups have come together to support the effort to buy back the water rights. The Colorado River District recently launched a fundraising campaign in support of the acquisition, which has already raised more than $55 million towards their goal of $99 million dollars.
“I’m excited that CMU has decided to contribute to the future of western water rights with such a donation that will make such a large impact on water conservation,” Said a CMU student.
The success thus far is largely due to the contributions made by organizations such as Grand Valley Power, who has contributed more than $100,000 and additionally, the City of Glenwood Springs pledged $2 million to the cause, recognizing the vital role Shoshone water rights play in ensuring a constant water supply. Several other counties along the western slope have collectively raised $4 million towards the cause, broadening the widespread importance of these water rights in regards to the entire region.
This is a particularly crucial time to protect water rights in western Colorado because of the prolonged droughts and increasing competition for water in the Colorado River Basin. This makes it essential to protect the region’s water sources. Without action communities that depend on the regular flow of this water for agricultural, industrial, or recreational uses could face severe economic hardships in the future.
CMU has currently made one of the largest single donations to the cause and with the collective action taken by the school, local governments, organizations and varying counties, the Colorado River Basin will soon reap the benefits.
“This donation inches the western slope that much closer to protecting its future with water rights,” said Marshall.
With the installment of a new geoexchange project at CMU, the school has saved around 1.2 million annually in energy savings. With that, Marshall and the board of trustees made the decision to take two years of those savings and commit them to the Shoshone water rights and the future of western water.
