A Rocky Mountain National Park wilderness protection bill was reported out of a U.S. Senate committee Wednesday after lawmakers reached a compromise over liability protection for an irrigation ditch running through the park.
The bill, sponsored by Colorado’s two senators — Democrat Ken Salazar and Republican Wayne Allard — would add a layer of legal protection for the park against future development and require strict management practices.
“Rocky Mountain National Park is one of our nation’s most treasured spaces . . . and we want to permanently protect the Park as a pristine wilderness,” Salazar said in a statement.
Although supported by local officials and the neighboring communities, the measure had been stalled by a dispute over liability protection for the Grand Ditch, which brings snowmelt from the park’s high peaks to the state’s northeastern plains.
An amendment passed along with the bill would grant legal protection for the ditch operator, Fort Collins- based Water Supply and Storage Co., as long as it adheres to terms of a maintenance and operations agreement with the park.
Just this week, the Justice Department reached a $9 million settlement from the company in a federal lawsuit sparked by a 2003 breach that destroyed wetlands and damaged trails.
The company, supported by Allard, has been seeking complete liability protection for any future failures.
“We still must ensure the protection of 20,000 acre-feet of water and 40,000 irrigated acres of farm land,” Allard said in the joint statement with Salazar.
U.S. Attorney Troy Eid could not be reached for comment on whether an event similar to the 2003 breach would be covered by the compromise.
The National Park Service already manages the park as if it were wilderness — using no mechanized equipment outside of the road corridors and restricting activities to preserve the natural setting.
A similar bill awaits action in the House; it is supported by the state’s entire delegation.
