Aug. 5--Gov. Dave Freudenthal's testy letter to the feds over the proposed "big straw" water project no doubt has scored a lot of political points.

But we would prefer that the governor and local officials in southeast Wyoming adopt an approach of engagement rather than confrontation. After all, if the planned pipeline, which would draw water from western Wyoming to the Colorado Front Range, is built, this area could be a beneficiary -- unless the governor and others so thoroughly alienate the developer that he refuses to even discuss the matter with them.

Last week, Mr. Freudenthal sent a critical letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ripping into the proposal and making demands. He asserted he "remain(s) opposed to the project," though he did recognize Colorado's rights to the water under the Colorado River Compact. But he also insisted that the project show "similar deference to Wyoming's rights to develop its Compact allocation."

If it is approved, the project would move 250,000 acre-feet of water from the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir some 560 miles to the Front Range. About 25,000 acre-feet (an acre-foot is the amount of water it takes to cover an acre one foot deep, or about 325,851 gallons) would go into the Platte River Basin in Wyoming, though we think that number could be improved greatly if state officials were to engage developer Michael Million in discussions.

The frustrating thing about Mr. Freudenthal's letter is that much of it demands the obvious: that wildlife and endangered species be protected if the project is approved; that Wyoming projects based in its allocation not be interfered with; that Colorado assign some of its allocation to the project.

But then he further asserts that the project must not impact any future Wyoming uses -- as if he has the power to hang onto Colorado's portion -- and that the action not affect business and tourism. But if those uses are built on Colorado water, what right does the governor have to insist they continue?

In many ways, Mr. Freudenthal's approach reminds us of his strategy on wolves: Draw a line in the sand. Everyone knows how well that has worked -- not! -- as the feds still are overseeing this state's wolves even as Idaho and Montana have taken control of theirs. It scores a lot of political points, but it gets little or nothing done.

No doubt, the "big straw" project has a lot of hurdles to get over -- as the governor makes more than clear in his letter. But if it does so, unless this state turns down the rhetoric and seeks more positive ways to get involved, it could end up watching millions of gallons of water head to the Front Range while it benefits not a whit.

Why doesn't Mr. Freudenthal appoint a team of state and local leaders from places like Cheyenne and Laramie to see if they can work with Mr. Million for the good of Wyoming which, by the way, has talked about trans-basin diversion for years? Yes, that won't be popular. But would the governor rather have political points or water?

-----

To see more of Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.wyomingnews.com/.

Copyright (c) 2009, Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, Cheyenne

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.