Ouray County officials could ink a deal with the Bureau of Reclamation to lease about 3,000 acre-feet of water every year from the Ridgway Reservoir for the next five years to benefit local irrigators.

The opportunity comes as the ongoing application to develop Ram’s Horn Reservoir continues through water court. Commissioner Jake Niece said the potential water lease is separate from the court case and is a stopgap until another solution can be reached. The possibility was discussed at a wor...