María Elvira Salazar: “Today I am introducing the Fountain Creek Feasibility Study Act of 2007. This bill is an important piece of a larger…”

“Today I am introducing the Fountain Creek Feasibility Study Act of 2007. This bill is an important piece of a larger vision to transform and restore the Fountain Creek watershed, which lies in the Arkansas River Valley between the cities of Pueblo and Colorado Springs in my State of Colorado. The Fountain Creek watershed is a major tributary to the Arkansas River and is home to a wide variety of plants and wildlife. Anyone who has traveled the 1-25 corridor between Colorado Springs and Pueblo can attest to the natural beauty of this region. The watershed itself comprises 927 square miles, but the impact of its waterflow extends far beyond its strict boundaries. According to the 2000 census, more than 500,000 people live in the watershed's boundaries. Water from the watershed serves municipal, industrial and agricultural uses. Creeks within the watershed contribute about 15 percent of the drinking water for Colorado Springs and are a source of irrigation for over 100 farms and ranches. The fertile farmland there produces wheat, corn, hay, oats, and vegetable crops; there are also many working livestock ranches along Fountain Creek. Today there are major problems with Fountain Creek.”