Advocacy

Rapid growth along the Front Range has put increasing pressure on limited water resources in the Lower Arkansas Valley. As a response, the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District has long prioritized advocating for responsible and ethical transfers of water. The needs of one community should not threaten the livelihood of another.

Opposition to Development

Lower Ark District Advocates Against Colorado Springs Amara Development

During their regularly scheduled meeting on July 23, 2024, the Colorado Springs City Council was again considering a 3,200 acre proposed annexation for the Amara master-planned community by developer, La Plata Communities. The proposed development would include 9,500 new homes and over 2 million square feet of commercial and other space. The costly Amara development would require over 3,500 acre-feet of water annually, the equivalent of drying up another 5,000 to 6,000 acres of farmland in the Lower Arkansas Valley.

The Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District mobilized and took action to protect agriculture in the valley.

  • During the first public hearing in July, which took 7 ½ hours, the Colorado Springs City Council voted to approve the annexation. General Manager Jack Goble attended the meeting and testified during public comment about the District’s concerns regarding the Amara Development. He asked the City Council to consider the direct ramifications to their neighbors in the Lower Arkansas Valley. Goble later penned an op-ed in the Colorado Springs Gazette outlining the same concerns. 

    As part of the required procedures to authorize the annexation for the Amara Development, the Colorado Springs City Council held its second and final hearing on August 13. General Manager Goble was joined by Dr. Mike Bartolo, Ryan Hemphill, Matt Heimerich, and Dallas May, who all testified against the annexation on behalf of the Lower Arkansas Valley and its communities. During testimony, Dr. Bartolo stated, "Colorado Springs has already used their moral supply of water from the Lower Arkansas Valley.” Other testimony underscored similar concerns with the large volumes of water that Colorado Springs has historically exported from the Lower Valley and their unchecked future plans for water development in the region. They spoke to the detrimental effects on their communities’ economy, heritage, and way of life. 

    In a surprising turn, the annexation failed during the second reading with a 5 to 4 vote against the annexation by Colorado Springs City Council.  

    Here is a video that shows the testimonies of the Lower Ark Valley attendees at the second meeting. It also includes Colorado Springs Councilman Dave Donelson’s TV news interview the following day, noting the reason for switching his vote was primarily because of the testimonies provided by the Lower Ark Valley attendees.

    The Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District would like to thank those who testified for your continued commitment to our communities.