Pueblo County has approved an agreement clearing the way for Colorado Springs to begin using its new, $825 million pipeline to draw water from the Arkansas River on Wednesday as planned.
The Pueblo Chieftain reports the county commissioners on Monday accepted Colorado Springs' pledge to spend more than $460 million to control sediment that drains into Fountain Creek. The sediment causes problems in Pueblo County, which is downstream from Colorado Springs.
The county had threatened to withdraw a permit Colorado Springs needs for the 50-mile-long pipeline unless the city curtailed the sediment. The pipeline needs Pueblo County's approval because it crosses the county.
The county and federal regulators had also threatened to sue the city over the sediment.
Monday's vote by Pueblo County means the water project can begin operating Wednesday.
