Water Wars, Colorado Edition
Mar 18th, 2009 by NFiore
An article in the LA Times today sheds some light on an issue we know well here in Colorado: water rights. An issue that is easy to push to the back of your mind (you don’t miss your water…) until it runs right up front - often quickly - water policy and management are integral to the success of all inhabitants of the plains, the front range, the mountains, and the western slope. The Times article points out the seemingly absurd notion that Coloradans are restricted from collecting the water that falls on their property - it is explicitly illegal. The rights to the water that falls on your property most likely belong to someone else. Many questions come to mind upon consideration of this complex issue, not the least of which revolve around notions of collective vs. individual rights. In an era of government ineptitude it is natural for citizens to assert more claims on individual rights in an effort to ensure the welfare and safety of themselves and their families. However, strong regional authority - when implemented with fairness and justice in mind - may be necessary to provide a clear structure for the distribution of a collective resource. Balancing the needs of individuals, agriculture, recreation, and business uses will not be easy, and hard decisions will be necessary. As we are now suffering “moderate” drought conditions these issues are important, and we need to address them prior to the inevitable water emergencies we will face in the future.
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