Colorado Sun Sponsored Arkansas River Panel Discussion
- Anne Boswell Taylor
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
~Norman L. Kincaide, Ph.D.
Adams State University sponsored a panel discussion on the Arkansas River presented by The Colorado Sun, Aurora Water, Colorado Springs Utilities, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Colorado Water Center, CSU and Lower Arkansas Water Conservancy District on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at the Grand Theater in Rocky Ford.
Michael Booth, environmental writer for the Sun moderated. Sitting for the panel were Dr. Mike Bartolo, CSU, Vegetable Crop Specialist, retired, Jack Goble, General Manager, Lower Arkansas Water Conservancy District, Rick Kienitz, Aurora Water, Rob Oquist, Otero County Commissioner, and Kim Gortz, Colorado Springs Utilities. Photographer Mike Sweeney narrated a slide presentation of photographs from the head waters of the Arkansas River on the north slope of Mount Arkansas to Holly, Prowers County.
Jack Goble arrived late, having just returned from the State Capitol to inform the audience that Representative Ty Winter’s House Bill 26-1340 passed out of the Ag Committee. This bill seeks to mitigate the effects of buy and dry when shares of water are sold off from agricultural use. That bill summary states: “Revegetate or Dry Farm Formerly Irrigated Agricultural Land, requires a water right owner who changes the use of their water right in water division 2 from agricultural irrigation purposes to another beneficial use on or after January 1, 2027, to engage in revegetation or a conversion to dry land farming with effective erosion control and weed management on the formerly irrigated land.”
The discussion turned to water leases as opposed to direct sale of water rights. Jack Goble said that most farmers want to farm as opposed fallowing their land. Leases of five to ten years are considered too long and do not take into account changing economic and environmental conditions. Leases of 30% of water from an owner are considered more practical. Municipalities, however, would rather buy water outright than lease.
Mike Bartolo said that plans are made with good intentions. There is lack of due diligence on water quality, soil science and the effects of fallowing land. Fallow land loses agricultural value the longer it remains fallow.
There was no clear-cut answer as to how much more water was needed to meet the needs of Colorado Springs or Aurora. Jack Goble reiterated that there will be no more water coming from the Western Slope to meet the needs of the Eastern Slope population, which has 80% of the population of Colorado. There is no other area in the state with available water. The Lower Arkansas Valley is the only real market source for shares of water. Nobody wants to limit growth. Nor restrict water use. Agricultural use represents 70% of water use, while municipal use is 7%. There is only so much conservation can do to reduce water consumption.
There was also the issue of Fountain Creek and its impact upon the Lower Arkansas Valley. Rob Oquist noted the photograph that showed the confluence of Fountain Creek with the Arkansas River. On the right was the tan sediment filled flow of the Fountain that mingled with the clear water of the Arkansas from Pueblo Reservoir. Jack Goble said the quality of the water really degrades below Avondale, impacting the quality and quantity of crops raised in the lower valley. Kim Gortz, Colorado Spring Utilities, said the city has returned treated water back to the Fountain. The problem as stated in a final question to the panel was, does taking more water from Pueblo Reservoir for Colorado Springs and Aurora impact the quality of water left to flow downstream? Mike Bartolo responded: Yes, it does. But nobody talks about it.
The reality of Colorado’s water is that there is no more water that is not already appropriated for agriculture, municipalities, recreation, storage and out of state obligations. The Arkansas River is a prime example of a vigorous river until it flows into Pueblo Reservoir, then virtually disappears by the time it reaches the Kansas border
