Udall urges delay of Southern Delivery System

Mark Udall wants to delay a Colorado Springs water project and is urging federal authorities to give "serious attention and full consideration" to Pueblo Chieftain publisher Bob Rawlings' opposition.

Rawlings is one of the most vociferous opponents of the $1 billion Southern Delivery System, now undergoing a review of its environmental impacts.

A public comment period, extended by 45 days, ended earlier this month.

Udall warned the Bureau of Reclamation its decision on routing the line could lead to "an inevitable and costly legal battle," based on downstream users' concerns.

Udall's move angered Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera, who's visited Udall numerous times in his Washington, D.C., office to talk about the project.

"Why is he waiting until the eleventh hour to weigh in on this when he hasn't said anything for four years?" Rivera  said. "This isn't even in his district."

Udall represents Colorado's 2nd District, which includes Boulder. Udall, a Democrat, is running for the Senate seat held by Republican Sen. Wayne Allard, who is not seeking re-election.

His chief of staff Alan Salazar noted Udall is a member of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power and that he's worried about Fountain Creek's water quality and flooding.

Pueblo is a Democratic stronghold, while Colorado Springs is overwhelmingly Republican, but Udall was not motivated by politics in sending the letter, his spokesman said today.

"It's not about politics; it's about the quality of water in Colorado," Salazar said.

In the letter, Udall wrote, "His (Rawlings') comments, and others, really underscore the depth of concern that exists about the project and how it might affect water users throughout the Arkansas River basin."

Salazar said Udall wants the bureau "to be sensitive to the impacts, the way this process proceeds and the comments from the various communities." and find more collaborative solutions.

The project would increase Colorado Springs' water supply by a third would increase by a third, which officials say will be needed to meet the growing demand by 2012. The water, which Colorado Springs has the rights to but hasn't used, would be piped up from Pueblo Reservoir.

Rivera said he was "very disappointed" Udall wrote to the bureau without the city's knowledge and now wants to change the rules in mid-game.

"We play by the rules," Rivera said. "Congressman Udall has the prerogative to reform the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process, but we shouldn't be held hostage to do something outside that process that would negatively impact our ratepayers."

If Udall wants a longer comment period, he should propose legislation to amend it, Rivera said.

The mayor also noted the city has worked with Fremont County, Pueblo, the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District and others to advance the project, which will benefit the Springs, Pueblo West, Fountain and the Widefield/Security area.

"We know we have an obligation to mitigate flows down Fountain Creek, and we're going to do that," Rivera said. "Sen. (Ken) Salazar has spent a lot of time speaking to everyone and trying to bring them to consensus. Congressman Udall has not."

Jaci Gould, bureau special projects manager, said she hadn't seen Udall's letter. She said the bureau is reviewing comments to decide if the Draft Environmental Impact Statement is adequate. "If not, we'll make changes," she said.

Contact the writer: 636-0238 or pam.zubeck@gazette.com