Irrigation Season Begins in SECO - LAVWCD Letter to the Editor

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Irrigation Season Begins in Southeast Colorado - LAVWCD Letter to the Editor

The much-anticipated irrigation season begins in the Lower Arkansas Valley this Saturday, March 15. I would like to take this opportunity to thank and recognize our farmers, who are the backbone of the Lower Arkansas Valley’s economy. As tractors roar to life and our farmers recommit to another season of long days and late nights, producing food and fiber for our communities, our country, and the world, we express our deep appreciation for their tireless dedication to sustaining our valley.

It is with our farmers—and with all of you, our communities—in mind that the Board of Directors of the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District passed a resolution strongly opposing any new annexations by the City of Colorado Springs. These annexations would only exacerbate the city's already existing 34,000 acre-feet water supply gap for build-out of their existing city. Passed during the Lower Ark District’s regularly scheduled board meeting on February 19, the resolution highlights our grave concerns about the detrimental impact additional water demands from Colorado Springs could have on the Lower Arkansas Valley.

This week, the Otero County Board of County Commissioners joined us in our fight against the permanent removal of even more water from the Lower Ark Valley. They passed a resolution this week in support of the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District’s efforts to protect local water resources from ongoing and future water exports by Colorado Front Range municipalities.

We invite other municipalities, communities, and stakeholders to join the Lower Ark District in this opposition and to stay informed and involved in these important discussions impacting our communities.

In late January, four Lower Ark Valley farmers—Jared Gardner, Alan Franz, Chris Tomky, and Ryan Hemphill—along with Dr. Bartolo and Jack Goble, joined many others from El Paso County to testify against the Karman Line annexation before the Colorado Springs City Council. Watch their powerful testimonies here. This illogical and sprawling new development would annex another 1,900 acres into city limits, add 6,500 new homes, and add another 1,700 acre-feet of water supply demand per year for Colorado Springs.

While the City Council approved the annexation on January 28 by a 7-2 vote, citizens of El Paso County are not giving up—nor is the Lower Ark District. Our northern neighbors have launched an unprecedented effort to rescind the decision by taking it to the streets—literally.

The group worked to gather 31,344 petition signatures from Colorado Springs voters in 20 days by their Feb. 27 deadline to oppose the Karman Line Annexation. If 18,646 signatures of the 31,344 are verified, the City Council is forced to reconsider the annexation application, now with a clear, citywide message of opposition. If the Council votes to approve the annexation again, a special election will be held this summer, and Colorado Springs voters will have the final say on whether the Karman Line annexation moves forward.

Important Upcoming Dates

• Irrigation Season Begins | March 15

• Arkansas Basin Roundtable Meeting | April 9

• Lower Ark District Monthly Board Meeting | April 16

• Lower Ark District Closed (Good Friday) | April 18

Related Content:

Otero County Commissioners Pass Resolution Opposing Water Removal from Lower Arkansas Valley

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