Editor:
When I was a child, California was almost broken into two states over water. An aqueduct was built to divert the Feather River to southern California. Not only were northern Californians left with an ecological disaster and water rationing, but they were taxed to help pay for the aqueduct.
It was this memory that motivated me in 1997 or ’98 when as a commissioner we were given a contract to sell county water that I urged my brethren to change county policy and lease our water rights, never sell.
The county should now consider filing an injunction against any private sales such as the 200 shares of Salvation Ditch water rights listed for $1.2 million by the Michael Owsley family. We can’t let private landowners speculate with this valuable resource like we are seeing with oil.
The Front Range’s need for water is desperate. I strongly believe that their need and sheer numbers especially if combined with growing speculation in water markets may force the state to try to “condemn for public purposes” water rights. Though water owners would be paid a fair price, new purchases by Pitkin County might not “protect” our river basin.
Rachel Richards’ work with the Ruedi Water Board is critical and bully for her to get involved with what was an unpopular commissioner assignment due to the tedium of the agendas and distance to get there. Patty’s chairmanship of COG and Jack and Dorothea’s work with CCI have been huge as well. Protecting our rivers will come down to compromises made through the relationships they are developing — not a new tax.
Shellie Roy
Aspen
