DENVER-
Gov. Bill Ritter and legislative leaders on Friday formed a task force to study the water-supply crisis facing many farmers and ranchers in northeast Colorado.
The group will be part of the General Assembly’s interim Water Resources Review Committee, which will begin meeting after the 2007 legislative session ends.
Morgan County officials told Ritter last month the county faces “economic catastrophe” unless they get emergency help by April 15 for farmers whose water wells were shut down by the state in a water rights dispute.
They asked for an emergency executive order for a moratorium on shutdowns for two years, but Ritter said he did not know if he could do that.
Ritter said Friday the task force will bring together all the parties to study the problem.
“This is a complex problem that requires a comprehensive review,” he said. “This task force will bring together all stakeholders so we can explore all options.”
Bob Sakata, president of Sakata Farms in Brighton, a major vegetable producer, said it may be too late for some farmers, but he praised Ritter for taking action.
“At least he’s thinking about us,” Sakata said.
Sen. Brandon Shaffer, D-Longmont, who also attended the meeting in Wiggins, said the state needs long-term solutions to its water needs.
“We need to look at all possibilities to find solutions to the issue affecting Wiggins and the rest of the region. Unfortunately, we wont be able to accomplish this in the three weeks left in this legislative session,” Shaffer said.
The crisis began when the state suffered one of its worst droughts in history beginning in 2002. When South Platte River levels are low, the wells must be turned off to ensure that water users with higher-priority rights get their share, since the wells can affect river levels.
State law allows the wells to be used as long as their owners can replace water when it’s needed downstream.
The state engineer for 30 years had been able to juggle the state’s water supply to keep farmers happy and the South Platte flowing. But last year, the Colorado Supreme Court upheld a 1969 law requiring well owners to put water back into the South Platte. The courts also ruled that the water courts, not the state engineer, should decide water issues.
