Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit the following: Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Crested Butte, CO, March 21, 2014. Dear Representative Tipton, I am writing on behalf of Crested Butte Mountain…
Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit the following:
Crested Butte Mountain Resort,
Crested Butte, CO, March 21, 2014.
Dear Representative Tipton, I am writing on behalf of
Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) in support of H.R. 3189,
the ``Water Rights Protection Act.'' CBMR currently operates
on U.S. Forest Service Special Use Permit on over 4,300 acres
in Gunnison County and generates over $28 million dollars
into the local economy from destination skiers in lodging,
dining, entertainment and retail purchases.
CBMR supports H.R. 3189 because it would prohibit the U.S.
Forest Service from requiring our resort to transfer valuable
water rights to the Forest Service as a condition of
receiving a permit, or to apply for water rights in the name
of the United States, without compensation. This bill would
also prevent the federal government from making an end run
around state law by merely taking water rights that it does
not own through its permitting authority. It would not only
protect ski area water rights--it would protect any water
rights owners that operate on federal land.
Furthermore, requiring transfer of valuable water rights to
the U.S. Forest Service as a condition of receiving a permit
raises serious Fifth Amendment concerns. Most Colorado
resorts' water rights were acquired and developed at great
expense pursuant to Colorado law, and in some cases pre-date
the Forest Service itself. If the U.S. Forest Service wants
to secure its own water rights, it should buy them on
Colorado's well-regulated water market like everyone else.
Thank you for scheduling a hearing on H.R. 3189 and for
your leadership on this issue. It means a great deal to CBMR
and
other ski resorts operating across Colorado on Forest Service
lands.
Sincerely,
Ethan Mueller,
General Manager.
