On March 10, 2025 the Otero County Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution in support of the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District’s efforts to protect local water resources from depletion due to ongoing and future water acquisitions by Colorado Front Range municipalities.

The Board of Directors of the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District (Lower Ark District) has passed a resolution expressing strong opposition to any new annexations by the City of Colorado Springs that would exacerbate the city’s already existing 34,000 acre-feet water supply gap.

Two weeks ago, four Lower Ark Valley farmers—Jared Gardner, Alan Franz, Chris Tomky, and Ryan Hemphill—along with Dr. Bartolo and Jack Goble, joined many others from El Paso County to testify against the Karman Line annexation before the Colorado Springs City Council.

On Wednesday February 12, 120 people braved the bitter cold weather and joined the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District for a meal and a conversation about the importance of protecting agriculture, water, and our rural communities in the Lower Arkansas Valley.

On January 28, the Colorado Springs City Council approved an annexation that will result in the permanent dry-up of thousands of acres of vital farmland in the Lower Arkansas Valley.