By Associated Press - Thursday, March 13, 2014

DENVER (AP) - Colorado’s congressional delegation and state lawmakers are trying to clarify a dispute between Colorado ski areas and the U.S. Forest Service over ski area water rights.

Bills in Washington and Denver are trying to address an effort by the U.S. Forest Service to gain title to water rights used by ski resorts that lease federal land.

According to the Durango Herald (https://tinyurl.com/lvbzt4a ), the Forest Service has sought greater control of ski water rights since the 1980s. A federal judge in Denver overturned a previous agency policy that required ski areas to assign their water rights to the government in return for lease extensions. The agency plans to release a new policy soon.

Colorado lawmakers say losing control over federal water sources would threaten ski resorts and other tourism industries.

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Information from: Durango Herald, https://www.durangoherald.com

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