Nucla trustees send letter to Montrose County objecting to water supplementing in Camp B special-use permit

The Nucla Town Board reviewed a draft letter to the Montrose County Board of County Commissioners concerning the Camp B special-use permit application and whether the applicant should be allowed to supplement its domestic water supply with water drawn from Nucla or Naturita (both supplied via Mustang Water Authority). Trustees debated wording that would prohibit the applicant from relying on town domestic water in drought or low-flow conditions.

Trustees expressed concern about setting a precedent that could limit future local economic opportunities, but many emphasized protecting local domestic water supplies. After discussing alternate language and aligning portions of the draft with similar wording from neighboring Naturita, the board removed the word “strictly” from the draft and a motion to send the letter passed by roll call. "I'll make a motion to go ahead and send the letter to Camp B regarding the special use permit application," a trustee said; the motion was seconded and carried.

Why it matters: trustees seek to preserve Nucla’s limited source water for residents and town obligations while recognizing that the county’s special-use permit process allows conditions and negotiation. The letter asks the county to consider conditions that would prevent the applicant from using domestic town water to supplement its operations under low-water conditions.