Grand Valley Power Commits to Protecting Water for Our Rural Communities

by Joseph Burtard, Board Director

GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. - (October 14, 2024)  Grand Valley Power has joined the growing effort to secure the future of western Colorado’s rural communities with a $100,000 pledge towards the preservation of the Shoshone water rights. The donation will be given to a nonprofit foundation set up by the Colorado River District to support the purchase of the water rights associated with the Shoshone Hydroelectric Power Plant. GVP’s contribution, spread over 2024 and 2025, will come from unclaimed patronage capital and will not affect the cooperative’s rates or your electric bill.

But more importantly, the board’s decision to join the effort showcases GVP’s dedication to safeguarding the sustainability and prosperity of the local economies that depend on reliable water and energy resources.

The Shoshone Hydroelectric Plant, established in 1909, controls one of the oldest and most significant water rights in Colorado. These rights ensure that up to 1.02 million acre-feet of water flows down the Colorado River annually, benefiting agriculture, recreation, and rural communities like ours. It is more than just a hydroelectric facility; it is a lifeline for our farms, ranches, and towns that rely on dependable water and energy to thrive.

For rural communities, water and energy aren’t just resources — it’s our way of life. The preservation of the Shoshone water rights ensures that farmers can irrigate crops, ranchers can sustain livestock, and local economies can flourish. In times of drought, when water is scarce, Shoshone’s water rights provide a safety net that keeps our fields green and our livelihoods secure. Without this support and protection, the impacts on agriculture, recreation, ecosystem, and quality of life in western Colorado would soon look entirely different.

GVP believes that protecting water is protecting the future of our rural communities. To learn more about the Shoshone Hydroelectric Power Plant, Colorado River District, and how GVP is contributing to this essential cause, visit keepshoshoneflowing.org or contact GVP. Together, we can ensure that our community’s most valuable resources — water and energy — remain secure for generations to come.