A Pivotal Year for Water and Agriculture in the Lower Ark
As the year comes to a close, we’ve been reflecting on what a pivotal year this has been and how clearly people are making their voices heard, both at the ballot box and in their communities. In June, Colorado Springs voters decisively rejected the Karman Line annexation, which would have further increased the city’s 34,000 acre-feet water supply deficit needed to support the development of the tens of thousands of yet to be developed acres already annexed into city limits. Much of this water is anticipated to come from the dry-up of Lower Arkansas Valley farmland.
And just last month, a new study was released that confirmed again that residents of the Pikes Peak region overwhelmingly support preserving farms and agriculture, showing that protecting local lands and food resources remains a top regional priority. We are sincerely grateful to those who understand and support all that agriculture contributes to our culture and society and encourage you to reach out to your elected officials to ask them to do the same.
This spring, communities across the Lower Arkansas Valley also banded together in the face of unchecked growth on the Front Range and passed formal resolutions opposing any new annexations in Colorado Springs that would deepen the city’s future water supply deficit.
We are not alone in this effort to protect our local water supplies. Northeastern Colorado is facing similar pressures as water leaves their region for rapidly growing urban areas. They have also begun adopting resolutions that call for water to stay in Northern Colorado as a linchpin of agricultural productivity and economic prosperity.
Other corners of the state are also taking action. Recently, all six San Luis Valley counties signed an intergovernmental agreement and formed a joint planning board that reinforces their existing land use authority to protect against any future water export projects.
The growing pressures for our water resources also come from outside of Colorado. In April, we learned of a significant out-of-state investment in Lower Arkansas Valley water supplies. As demand for water continues to increase and supplies remain uncertain, the strain on our rural agricultural communities will only grow. We will continue to work alongside our local farmers to support solutions that serve them and strengthen our local communities.
The Lower Ark District has worked hard this year to advocate for the protection of the Lower Arkansas Valley and we are eager to carry that momentum forward into the new year. We thank you for joining us, and for your support.
From all of us at the Lower Ark District, happy holidays! Thank you for supporting local agriculture and for helping protect our water and our way of life.
Jack Goble
General Manager
Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District
