ESTES PARK - The Town Board of Estes Park next week will tackle whether to lease surplus water from the Platte River Power Authority to the oil and gas industry.

The Platte River board must also vote on the matter, which is scheduled to take place May 31.

Platte River has an average of 1,606 acre-feet per year of surplus water, according to Estes Park town documents.

The oil and gas industry has become a bigger user of water since the rise of hydraulic fracturing.

Platte River Power Authority generates and delivers electricity to its owner communities of Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland.