The Colorado Water Conservation Board has acquired water rights to improve late-summer water flows in two streams near Crested Butte. The board acquired 5.45 cubic feet per second of water to increase flows in the Washington Gulch and Slate River. Demands for irrigation water often dry up or deplete flows in the two by mid-July.

For a third year in a row, the state water board has made a call on a stretch of the Slate River to protect stream flows. But those junior water users along the stretch who have augmentation plans through the local water conservancy district have already met their obligation to provide the missing water. 

The Crested Butte Land Trust, the High Country Citizens’ Alliance and local property owners in the Trapper’s Crossing subdivision have all filed statements of opposition in the Gunnison District Water  Court over the filing by U.S. Energy of its conditional water rights.

U.S. Energy Corporation has filed its "résumé" of conditional water rights. The company has plans for a major molybdenum mine on Mt. Emmons west of Crested Butte.

Visitors and property owners near a section of the Slate River one mile south of the Town of Crested Butte have seen some strange phenomena lately, from chunks of foam riding the waves to hundreds of fish floating in the eddies. Wildlife officials say there may be nothing unusual going on, but chemical contamination hasn't been ruled out.

In a move designed to protect the natural environment of the Slate River, the state of Colorado has issued a water call on some junior water users in the Crested Butte area. As a result of recent low flows in the Slate River, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) placed a call on its in-stream flow rights, which were established in 1980.