Water speculation is ‘all the problems’ in one, Colorado group warns By Heather Sackett/Aspen Journalism and Luke Runyon/KUNC
May 7, 2021
A Parshall flume measures the water in the Alfalfa Ditch, which diverts water from Surface Creek, near Cedaredge, Colorado. The water is used to irrigate hayfields at nearby Harts Basin Ranch. (Photo by Luke Runyon/KUNC)
Harts Basin Ranch is a 3,400-acre expanse of hayfields and pasture just south of Cedaredge, Colorado, in Delta County. Owned by Conscience Bay Co. in Boulder, it holds the oldest water right on Surface Creek, dating to 1881. (Photo by Heather Sackett/Aspen Journalism)
Colorado is examining water speculation, and finding it’s all the problems in one
A state work group is trying to balance risks from investors with negative impacts to agriculture and is running into complicated questions. Author: Heather Sackett (Aspen Journalism), Luke Runyon (KUNC) Published: 3:19 PM MDT May 6, 2021 Updated: 3:19 PM MDT May 6, 2021
ASPEN, Colo. Melting snow and flowing irrigation ditches mean spring has finally arrived at the base of Grand Mesa in western Colorado.
Harts Basin Ranch, a 3,400-acre expanse of hayfields and pasture just south of Cedaredge, in Delta County, is coming back to life with the return of water.
Aspen Journalism/KUNC
Conscience Bay Company President Eli Feldman stands at a headgate on the Alfalfa Ditch near Cedaredge. Feldman, whose company owns Harts Basin Ranch and irrigates with water from the ditch, has been accused of water speculation: buying the ranch just for the future value of the water.
Heather Sackett/Aspen Journalism
ECKERT Melting snow and flowing irrigation ditches mean spring has finally arrived at the base of Grand Mesa in western Colorado.
Harts Basin Ranch, a 3,400-acre expanse of hayfields and pasture just south of Cedaredge, in Delta County, is coming back to life with the return of water.
KUNC
A Parshall flume measures the water in the Alfalfa Ditch, which diverts water from Surface Creek, near Cedaredge, Colo. The water is used to irrigate hayfields at nearby Harts Basin Ranch.
Melting snow and flowing irrigation ditches mean spring has finally arrived at the base of Grand Mesa in western Colorado.
Harts Basin Ranch, a 3,400-acre expanse of hayfields and pasture just south of Cedaredge, in Delta County, is coming back to life with the return of water.
Twelve hundred of the ranch’s acres are irrigated with water from Alfalfa Ditch, diverted from Surface Creek, which flows down the south slopes of the Grand Mesa. The ranch has the No. 1 priority water right meaning the oldest, which comes with the ability to use the creek’s water first dating to 1881.