By Austin Corona

The Colorado Water Conservation Board on Monday voted to recommend $20 million in assistance to the Colorado River Water Conservation District to purchase the water rights connected with the Shoshone Hydropower Plant in Glenwood Canyon.

The conservation board voted to recommend the funding as part of the state’s annual Water Projects Bill. In a news release, the board said the money would “contribute to a larger funding effort to secure Shoshone permanence and foster water security on the Colorado River.”

Prior to Monday’s vote, 18 people — each of whom joined in-person or virtually on behalf of local governments, water providers, NGOs and other entities — signed up to testify in favor of approval, according to the release.