Colorado's fractious water interests took another step toward unity Wednesday as Denver joined several rural groups in approving a set of guidelines designed to help solve the state's growing water crisis.

Today, the coalition, which represents 58 rural counties and six urban counties, will ask lawmakers to use the 10 guidelines in evaluating dozens of controversial water bills this year.

"It's a first step, but it's an important first step," said Denise Maes, a member of the Denver Water Board. "We all realize we're in this together."

As the drought continues, and stored water supplies continue to shrink, rural and urban communities are facing water shortages. In the past, efforts to find new sources of water or to share water have led to bitter, multi-million-dollar water wars that usually pit farmers and ranchers against cities.

This new coalition hopes to change all that. It includes Grand Junction-based Club 20, northeastern Colorado's Progressive 15, Action 22, representing southern Colorado, and the Metro Mayors Caucus, which represents 31 metro-area mayors.

Key ideas the new coalition has embraced include:

• Cities need to save more water and tap aquifers even as they look to Western Slope rivers for new supplies.

• Western Slope communities hurt by large water diversions should be compensated.

• Existing water storage structures should be improved before new ones are built.

• All Colorado water users must share in solving the state's water problems.

House Speaker Lola Spradley, R-Beulah, said she would carry a joint House-Senate resolution encompassing the guidelines that could be presented to the House as early as today.

"It's a landmark from the standpoint where we have the West Slope and East Slope agreeing on principles of water," Spradley said. "Is it going to make it happen? No, but you start with a step and take another step and pretty soon you've built a road."

The rural groups, intent on having a bigger voice in water issues than they have in the past, crafted the first set of guidelines last fall. Then Denver and other metro area cities asked to join the project and began working on guidelines that could accommodate rural and urban needs.

The historic group met for the first time Jan. 23, vowing to force fighting lawmakers to help find solutions to the water crisis.

Rep. Diane Hoppe, R-Sterling, said said Colorado Counties Inc. and the Colorado Farm Bureau were upset they weren't contacted by the groups before the October announcement of an agreement among 58 counties.

Members of what is now known as the Colorado 64 say that shouldn't stop newcomers from joining the coalition.

"We want this to go beyond the legislature and the groups that have signed on so far," said Rick Dykstra, executive director of the Progressive 15.

Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer Robert Sanchez and the AP contributed to this report.
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