News stories about Black Hills Energy have not been flattering lately, but we think the company deserves the community’s gratitude for an action it took last week.

Christopher Burke, vice president of Colorado Utility Operations for Black Hills, transferred ownership of water rights and water diversion infrastructure to officials representing Pueblo Water, the city of Pueblo and the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo.

The water rights, appraised at $280,000, were donated to Pueblo Water. To the city were given water diversion infrastructure – headgates, tunnels, diversion dams, ponds, etc. – and the pipeline that carries water from the Arkansas River to the HARP channel.

In past years, the water and system were used to cool the now-decommissioned power plant. But today, that water and system are critical to the operation of the Riverwalk’s route.

Read more at The Pueblo Chieftain.