SALAZAR SUPPORTS FAIR AND BALANCED WATER PLAN

Fountain Creek Clean Up Must Take Priority

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman John T. Salazar (CO-3) today formally supported an alternative to Colorado Springs proposed Southern Delivery System (SDS), a plan that would provide clean water for the residents of the Lower Arkansas communities while allowing Colorado Springs to increase its water resources.

“All communities have a right to clean water,” said Salazar. “The plan put forward is fair and balanced, providing clean water for rural Colorado while giving Colorado Springs an opportunity to increase its own water resources.”

Salazar submitted comments to the Bureau of Reclamation is support of an alternative to the proposed Southern Delivery System. The alternative is built around three key proposals:
• Postponing the NEPA-EIS process until the Army Corps of Engineers completes its Fountain Creek Watershed Study
• Colorado Springs should consider flood control, mixed with re-use of treated water in Fountain Creek
• Building storage and settling reservoirs along the Fountain Creek, as opposed to the proposed pipeline from either Pueblo Reservoir or Fremont County to Colorado Springs

“By using re-treated water, Colorado Springs will increase its water resources,” said Salazar. “I’ve always believed that working together is the best way to solve our problems, but the bottom line is we cannot allow people to suffer simply because they live downstream.”

Salazar has led an effort in Congress to clean up the pollution of Fountain Creek, exploring several avenues to protect and preserve rural Colorado’s water, including working with Congressman Hefley to secure federal funds for the clean up. Salazar has shared the SDS alternative plan with Colorado Springs utility in recent weeks, welcoming their input and comment, but has received no official response.