Western Slope water managers are asking the federal government to help fund a water rights purchase to keep the Colorado River flowing west. In November, the Colorado River Water Conservation District filed an application with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for $40 million to help buy the water rights associated with the Shoshone hydropower plant in Glenwood Canyon. River District officials say the water rights, which are some of oldest non-consumptive rights on the Western Slope, are essential for downstream ecosystems, cities, agricultural and recreational water users. The water rights have the ability to draw 1,408 cfs of water downstream and can command the river’s flow by forcing Front Range water providers that draw from the headwaters to shut off.  But President-elect Trump has said he would claw back the unspent funds from the Inflation Reduction Act — $450 million of which was allocated to Upper Colorado River Basin projects — when his administration takes over in January. That means the $40 million the River District is requesting could be in jeopardy.