Ouray County, Tri-County Water Conservancy District and Bureau of Reclamation officials are working toward finalizing a lease for Ridgway Reservoir water that will benefit local water users.

The price for 3,000 acre-feet of irrigation water, enough to cover 3,000 acres with one foot of water, is roughly $5 per acre-foot or $15,000 per year. The contract would be renewed yearly, and the county may also lease 5 or 6 acre-feet of industrial water for $250 per acre-foot to be used by the Road and Bri...