The Fence Post: Big City Voters asked to Reject Further Water Takes From Ark Valley

“We recognize that Colorado Springs is growing, and we’re not here to stand in the way of progress,” said Rob Oquist, Otero County Commissioner. “But growth must be balanced with long-term water planning. Voters in Colorado Springs have a real opportunity to consider how decisions made today will affect not just their own community, but rural areas like ours that are part of the same watershed. We’re asking for thoughtful, responsible growth that doesn’t come at the expense of agricultural regions downstream.”

Jack Goble, general manager of the LAVWCD said the city already shoulders the burden of securing 34,000 acre feet of water to support the development of tens of thousands of undeveloped acres already within city limits, some of which has been committed. Further increasing that demand puts more land used for agriculture production and the rural communities that depend upon agriculture to survive both at risk.