This article was originally published by KUNC. Colorado’s Glenwood Canyon is as bustling as it is awe-inspiring. The narrow chasm, flanked by near-vertical walls coated in snow, is teeming with life. On one side, the Colorado River rushes through whitewater rapids, while on the other, cars and trucks speed along a busy interstate. In the middle of it all sits the unassuming Shoshone Generating Station.
Amy Moyer, director of strategic partnerships at the Colorado River District, described the building as nondescript, admitting that most people don’t notice it while driving. However, for those in the water world, it holds the key to one of the most significant and intriguing water rights on the Colorado River.
The Colorado River District, a taxpayer-funded agency, intends to invest nearly $100 million in water rights to maintain the flow of water through the Shoshone facility. This investment marks the culmination of a decades-long endeavor to preserve Shoshone’s water on the west side of Colorado’s mountains, easing the region’s concerns regarding potential water shortages in competition with the needs of the fast-growing cities and suburbs on the Front Range, notably around Denver.
Despite the hefty price tag associated with the rights to Shoshone’s water, the new owners aim to leave the river virtually unchanged. The river district will obtain access to Shoshone’s water from the plant operator, Xcel Energy, and lease it back as long as the operator continues to produce hydropower. The water right is considered “non-consumptive,” meaning that every drop entering the power plant is returned to the river. The river district aims to maintain this aspect, ensuring that the water destined for the hydroelectric plant also flows downstream to benefit farmers, fish, and homes.
The river district is assembling the $98.5 million sum from various local, state, and federal sources, with $40 million already secured and deals in progress for the remainder. Notably, this significant water deal has garnered widespread support from a diverse group of water users due to the acquisition’s pivotal role in Colorado.
The Shoshone facility is among the oldest and most significant water rights in the state, granting it preemptive power over many other Colorado water rights. During dry periods, when other regions are grappling with water shortages, the Shoshone Hydroelectric Plant can maintain water flow through its turbines. Beyond producing a relatively small amount of energy, this allows the water to continue flowing for users downstream, benefiting fish, farmers, and households in the process.
The potential purchase of Shoshone’s water has received broad support due to its benefits for a wide range of sectors. The additional water flow into the river is especially significant for the aquatic life in the river. This includes the “15 mile reach,” a critical part of the river where endangered species heavily depend on the increased water flow that the Shoshone turbines provide. This section of the river supports a variety of species, some of which are endangered and found only in the upper portions of the Colorado River, relying on the river for their natural habitat and sustainability. The purchase of Shoshone’s water rights is expected to bring more predictable and healthier flows to this section of the river, benefiting both the aquatic wildlife and the nearby farmers and ranchers.
