The City of Durango will have to wait for its day in court.

Its May court date in Colorado water court over its application for a recreational in-channel diversion was been postponed until January 2008.

“We were supposed to go to court this week, but the Southwest Water Conservation District has requested a continuance because they wanted more time

for negotiation,” said Durango Director of Parks and Recreation Cathy Metz.

In February of 2006, the City applied for in-stream flows of between 185 and 1,400 cfs for a nearly 1,200-foot stretch of the Animas River through Santa Rita Park. The application was opposed by several entities, including the water conservation district as well as La Plata County, the Bureau of Reclamation and upstream water

users. The Colorado Water Board, which has ruled in favor of several other municipalities in RICD cases, was scheduled to hear the case this week.

Steve Harris, a water engineer representing the SWCD, said the opponents filed for an extension in the hopes of settling the case out of court. “We think this thing should be resolveable without going to trial,” he said.

Metz said there has been ongoing dialogue between the City and the opponents of the RICD, and there are plans for mediation later this summer.

“There is going to be a mediation session between the City and the objectors this summer that could bring resolution before trial,” she said. “If we could settle out of court, that would be great.”

– Missy Votel