Bolts Ditch Act

The Bolts Ditch Act would permit the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District and the Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority to access and use the Bolts Ditch and its headgate located within the Holy Cross Wilderness in Colorado. These entities would be authorized to divert water through this ditch and to perform maintenance and repair work on both the ditch and its headgate structure.

For Colorado residents, this bill would affect water management in the Eagle River region. The two water districts serve communities in this area, and the ability to maintain and operate this water diversion infrastructure would support their capacity to supply water to their service areas. The Bolts Ditch appears to be an existing water conveyance system, and this legislation would clarify the legal authority of these districts to access and maintain it.

The bill has passed the House and is currently under review by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The legislation involves a balance between water resource management needs and wilderness area protections, as the ditch and headgate are located within a designated wilderness area. If enacted, the bill would allow these specific water management activities to proceed in that protected landscape.