Gov. Bill Ritter urged members of a special South Platte River task force today to put self interests aside and help end a water crisis that idled hundreds of irrigation wells in northeastern Colorado.

With just one meeting left after today's gathering in Denver, the task force is struggling to find new ways to manage the river so that surface water users and well owners can co-exist.

But progress throughout the summer has been slow. The group must craft a plan for lawmakers by Sept. 30.

"The whole hope of this," Ritter said, "was that we could take the decisions that have been dealt us and find some solutions.

"I understand how difficult and intractable this is. But those who live this know that very difficult problems will be created as we go forward if something isn't done."