Western Slope efforts to permanently secure historic Colorado River water rights associated with a hydroelectric power plant got a major boost on Monday when the Colorado Water Conservation Board approved contributing $20 million to the purchase. The board unanimously approved the funding contribution toward a proposed $99 million purchase by the Colorado River District of water rights owned by Xcel Energy for the Shoshone power plant in Glenwood Canyon. The state board will include the funding request in a bill to be considered by the state legislature.
