Illegal ponds and fire suppression efforts raise questions on compliance

Should illegal ponds be tapped to combat wildfires? A month ago, the answer was a clear “yes,” but when Senate Bill 114 came to the House Agriculture, Livestock and Water Committee last week, it wasn’t so clear. The bill is now raising questions from those with water rights in the South Platte about its impact on compact compliance and court orders.

SB 114 would require county commissioners to apply to the state engineer to have certain ponds designated for wildfire suppression.

Those ponds must be accessible to firefighters, if it’s in an area without fire hydrants or other water, that it was...