San Juan Water District Faces Budget Overrun Amid Legal Battle Over Running Iron Ranch Sale

San Juan, Colorado – In recent months, the financial burden of ongoing litigation has placed the San Juan Water Conservancy District (SJWCD) under fiscal pressure as they debate the potential sale of Running Iron Ranch. The property, co-owned with the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD), has become a contested asset as plans to construct a reservoir on the site clash with PAWSD’s intentions to sell. The controversy began in the fall of 2024 when PAWSD initiated efforts to sell the ranch, a move opposed by SJWCD based on an agreement made in 2015 … Read more