The Board of County Commissioners, Ouray County Water Users Association and Tri-County Water Conservancy District have filed an application with the state for conditional water rights which would allow water to be diverted from Cow Creek into the Uncompahgre River so it could be stored in Ridgway Reservoir in preparation for times of drought.

County Attorney Carol Viner gave an overview of the application, which was filed on Dec. 30, at a meeting with commissioners on Tuesday.

“The goal of this...