El Paso County/Colorado Springs Water Issues

By Nancy Murray

Dan Tucker, a water engineer from the Arkansas Basin Round Table provided invaluable information on water in El Paso County. He represents a 501.c12 organization that oversees 1200-1400 wells and 24-40% Colorado River Basin. 

Approximately 25-50% of our water is imported from the western slope.

The Colorado River Compact that allocated waters from the river, was drawn up by lawyers during a wet cycle. Today, we are in a dry cycle, so the Compact is difficult to honor.

The growth of Colorado Springs is enormous, but the water pumping out of Pueblo to COS remains the same. Many attribute this to the conversion of grass to xeriscaping and reducing the need for more water. Approximately 52% of our water is imported.

COS bought water rights from Crowley County and dried up the lands because it was not properly revegetated. The Interruptible Water Supply Act is to prevent another Crowley County.

With relation to water, growth in the cities is at the expense of agriculture. On the Front Range, society continues to put head in the sand about how developers are bleeding Colorado dry.