in the news
As a fourth-generation farmer and rancher in the San Luis Valley, Simpson said he looks at policy through a lens of rural Colorado. To him, representing that population is paramount.
“If you look at the Colorado state Senate, there’s a handful of senators that represent rural areas,” said Christine Arbogast, a federal affairs liaison who’s worked with Simpson for nearly two decades on water-related issues. “The rural areas need strong leadership and a strong spokesperson.”
“From my perspective, I’m not sure we could have a better senator. Coming from the water world, he understands it,” said Steve Wolff, general manager of the Southwestern Water Conservation District.
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From the Durango Herald:
Cleave Simpson settles into District 6,
looks to water issues
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"Rural Colorado and our way of life continues to be the target of speculative interests. Water in the Rio Grande basin and the San Luis Valley remains under threat by Renewable Water Resources and their supporters in Douglas County. New water basin exportation projects are not how we manage water in Colorado and I will continue to work with my fellow Colorado legislators and rural communities to ensure that pipe dream projects like RWR never see the light of day."
– Cleave Simpson
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From the Colorado Sun:
Douglas County’s water future shouldn’t be for sale
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Nov 16, 2022
PODCAST – Water, Under Pressure: Liquid Gold (S2 Ep1)
If water means conflict, but people need it, then what are the options for the communities of the San Luis Valley? Keep their water for the next generation? Or sell their water and potentially loose their livelihoods and cultural identities?
The Institute for Science & Policy LINK