DENVER (AP) -- A $3.2 billion proposal to pump water from the Yampa River 200 miles to the Front Range could work, according to a new study.

The Yampa, one of the state's last rivers with unclaimed water, could provide more than 97 billion gallons per year to the fast-growing population center across the Continental Divide, according to the feasibility study by the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District.

The district likely would not take the lead on such a project, but leaders said they would provide information to interested Front Range cities.

"Sure, there's interest," said district spokesman Brian Werner. "I know that Centennial, Aurora and Highlands Ranch are all looking for water."

They could face tough opposition from ranchers, rafters, kayakers and northern Colorado municipalities who want to keep the water in the Yampa River basin. The river is considered one of the West's last wild rivers because it has only a few small dams and diversions.

"The Yampa River is a relic of the past, it's a dinosaur of a river because it's relatively free-flowing," said rafting guide Kent Vertrees. "We've got to ask ourselves what value we place on that."

District officials said the project would take water from the river at Maybell, about 30 miles east of Craig in far northwestern Colorado, far enough downstream to minimize the effects on municipalities that use the water.

"Because of the volume of water involved, even though the price tag for the project is large, the cost of the water per acre-foot is what folks are paying right now, and in some cases is much cheaper," said Carl Brouwer, the district's project manager.

The project would have to ensure that withdrawals don't hurt water users in the Colorado River basin, which is facing demands from oil shale development and other water projects that could be expanded, said Eric Kuhn, director of the Colorado River Water Conservation District.

"It could be gone pretty quickly and then we're talking about failing to meet Colorado River compact requirements," he said.

The Colorado River is governed by a multistate agreement requiring Colorado to ensure enough water stays in the river each year to meet the needs of downstream states.