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Front Range water providers force hearing over proposed purchase of Colorado River water rights

By Thelma Grimes 07/03/2025 | updated 1 month ago

The Colorado Water Conservation Board on Tuesday voted to approve a request from four Front Range water providers to hold a hearing in September to address worries with a proposal to create an instream water right, which is related to water used by the Shoshone hydroelectric power plant.

Aurora Water, Colorado Springs Utilities, Denver Water, and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District requested a hearing from the state board to address concerns they have regarding a plan for the Colorado River District to purchase water rights from Xcel Energy for $99 million.

The deal aims to ensure that a significant amount of water from the Colorado River continues to flow downstream during periods of low water flow, rather than being diverted. The plan is designed to conserve water along the Western Slope.

In a June 9 letter, Denver Water said, “The proposal will change, rather than maintain, the status quo in ways that would hurt Denver Water’s ability to provide water to the 1.5 million people we serve during severe or prolonged drought.’’

The Colorado Springs Water District echoed those worries in a June 9 letter requesting an official hearing.

The water agency said it is “concerned that the River District’s proposed methodology for determining the historic use of the senior and junior Shoshone water rights will result in the expansion of Shoshone water rights, especially the junior right, that could materially injure (Colorado Springs Utilities) decreed water rights, including its water rights on the Blue River and its interest in the water rights for the Homestate Project by reducing the volume of water available for diversion under those rights.”

If the sale is approved, the instream water rights would be managed by the Colorado Water Conservation Board, which would create a change-of-water-right decree in water court.

The public hearing will be held on Sept. 16-18.

During Tuesday’s short meeting, Senior Assistant Attorney General Jaclyn Calicchio was tasked to create the agenda for the September hearing. The water utilities have until July 9 to sign on as interested parties.

Calicchio said it is her understanding that a decision will be made following the conclusion of the special hearing by Sept. 18.

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