 | Many people have tried to navigate through the vast set of laws and regulations regarding use of and attainment of water. One of these is Aaron Million. Aaron Million is a entreoreneur from Colorado who has been attempting to gain access to water from the Upper Basin of the Colorado River which Colorado has 51% of the rights too. His plan involves moving the water through a 400-mile pipeline that is estimated to cost around $4 billion dollars. The pipeline would travel along side Interstate 80. His difficuties arise from the delimna of having to gain permission from both Utah and Wyoming in order to use the easiest way over the Rocky Mountians. He will also have to gain right-of-way permits from landowners on his proposed route and also have to gain a contract from the Bureau of Reclamation to divert the water. This is just part of the daunting task that is ahead for Million but it has done little to deter his motivation. The most difficult task he is yet to complete is gaining rights to the water under Colorado law. In order to gain rights to water Million is required to demonstrate that the water will be used for beneficial purposes, such as by citizens or farmers. This means that he needs to have a contract in place with cities. The problem is cities wont commit to Million's water source without having a price set in stone, and he can't have a price until he knows how difficult it will be to obtain the permits and construct the pipeline. He is in a catch-22 where he can not win either way. |
