Who will stop the draining of San Luis Valley’s water lifeline?

Amid punitively expensive rescue plans for a dwindling Colorado aquifer, the culture and economy of potato farming hopes to survive

Where Colorado will find the water it needs to thrive is a more urgent question than ever amid historic drought, undeniable climate change and unprecedented interstate conflicts over limited river supplies. The Colorado Sun is embarking on a solutions journalism series asking who in the state is doing their share to save precious water. Our solutions-oriented reporting will assess whether specific water conservation projects can free up water at a large scale, or whether local conservation is always overwhelmed by uncontrollable natural conditions or immovable market realities. The Colorado Sun series, “ Can Colorado do more with less water? ,” will create a body of work showcasing what may or may not be possible in creating water solutions across the state. From Akron to Aspen, we’re looking for signs of success or failure that will help lead us to water security. HOOPER From satellite view, the entire grid of the northern San Luis Valley looks like a mat from the game of ...