One of the largest ski resorts in Southwestern Colorado is trying to expand its water rights. Law360 reports that Purgatory Resort in Durango has filed a legal complaint with a federal judge against the U.S. Forest Service because they want to use water in the Hermosa Creek watershed.
The U.S. Forest Service believes that the previous owner sold the rights to use this watershed to the U.S.F.S. via a land exchange. Purgatory believes that the prior owner did not give up this watershed for usage. The intention of this lawsuit is for a federal judge to recognize their right to use this watershed. They aim to use it for future snowmaking and real estate expansions. You can read the lawsuit here.
Purgatory has been busy with expansion plans over the past couple of years. This offseason, much of their investments went towards upgrading their snowmaking systems. This spring, the Forest Service approved an expansion into Ice Creek, which would add easy and intermediate trails, along with a new chairlift, to its skiable acreage. Additionally, the ski resort wants to expand through the development of real estate. If their full expansion goals were to ever come to fruition, the ski resort expects to see 400,000 guests a season, and two thousand homes would exist around the mountain.
Image Credits: Purgatory Resort
