WSP08932

• File Number: 8131.600
• Description: Southeastern Colorado Water conservancy District - SECWCD
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 1/1/1974
• Title: Annual Report 1973 - The Future of The Arkansas Valley is Its Water - The Future of Its Water is the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

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J, SID NICHOLS
Director-May 13. 1958 - September 27. 1973
President-April 1965 - April 1971

This Armue.l Report is dedicated to the memory of Mr.
J. Sid Nichols. who passed away unexpectedly on September 27,
1973, at his home in Manitou Springs, Colorado.
Sid was appointed a Charter Member of the Board of
Directors of the District on May 13. 1958. as one of the rep-
resentatives from E1 Paso County. and was serving in thai
capacity at the lime of his death. His colleagues on the Board,
in recognition of his vast knowledge of water management and
outstanding leadership abilities, elected him to serve as Presi-
dent of the District in April 1965, and each year thereaftt':c
untit April 1971. when he requested that he be relieved of the
duties as President.
President Nicholo; was horn in Colorado Springs January
31. 1907; he graduated from the University of Colorado with
a degree in Civil Engineering, and did graduate work at the
Chicago Central Station Institute. He returned to Colorado
Springs and served in various capacities with the Public Utili-
ties Department for the City, and retired in January 1972, as
Chief or Operation~.
Sid served on many Water Association Boards and Com-
millees, including the American Water Works Association,
Colorado Utilitie~ Association, Soil Conservation Service, Dis-
trict No. 10 Water Users Association, Colorado River Water
Users Assodalion, and the Arkansas Basin Development Asso-
ciation. He was elected Chairman of the Colorado Water Con-
gress, and received the coveted '''Headgate Award" from the
Four Slates Irrigation Council. In 1969 Governor John A. Love
appointed him to the A rkan",as River Basin Interstate Commit-
tee, as one of five Jesignees from the State of Colorado, to
work on water matters involving the Arkansas River from its
headwaters in Colorado to its confluence with the Mississippi
in Arkansas.
His name will always be synonymous with such famous
Water Management Project5 as the Blue River, Homestake,
Fryingpan-Arkansas, Upper Colorado River and others yet to
be constructed. They shall serve future generations as monu-
ments to his foresight, knowledge and dedication to his {eBow
man.
President Nichols i.., suni\'ed by his widow Caroline. sons
James and John, and daughters Mrs. Nelta Lowderman and
Miss Ann E. Nichols.

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HISTORY

The Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy
District was created under Colorado State Statutes on
April 29, 1958, by District Court in Pueblo, Colorado,
lt embraces approximately 280,000 irrigable acres in
26,150 square miles in the Arkansas River Basin, with
a population of approximately 400,000 people, and
includes towns from Rural Unincorporated Munici.
palities, to Cities in excess of 200,000 people! and
areas ranging from very small farms to large ranch-
ing operations. It truly is representative of "Rural
America", where the agricultural sectors are suffering
out-migration, and the larger metropolitan areas are
faced with problems common to growing areas.
The citizens in the Arkansas Valley realized long
before 1958 that a well managed water supply held
the key to the future growth and prosperity of the
Basin in Colorado, and as a result of this sincere con-
victioll! they Petitioned the Court in Pueblo for per-
mission to form a Watee Conservancy District. The
movement actually started as early as 1922, when a
group of citizens from farms and dties joined together
to start discussing ways of not only managing existing
or decreed water supplies better. but also utilizing
other waters in Colorado to which they were legally
entitled.
Not only has the District grown in population
since its creation, but also in valuation. When formed
in 1958 it had an assessed valuation of slightly less
than $400 million, and on January 1, 1974., the valua.
tion was $016.034,766.00. As mentioned previously.
most of the increase has come in Counties where metro-
politan areas are growing.

DISTRICT POWER AND AUTHORITY
Colorado Revised Statutes in 1963, Article 5.
passed by the Colorado General Assembly in 19371
sets forth specific duties, powers and authorities of
Water ConseT\'ancy Districts in the State of Colorado,
and included in Article 5 are the following Sections:
150-5,1 - Declaration (I), "is hereby
declared that to provide for the conservation of
waler resources of the State of Colorado, and for
the greatest beneficial use of water within this
State. the organization of Water Conservancy Dis-
tricts, and the construction of works as herein
defined by such Districts are a public use and
will:
(2) Be essentially for the Public benefit
and advantage of the people of the State of COlD,
rado.
(3) Indirectly benefit all industries of the
State.
(4) Indirectly benefit the State of Colorado
in the increase of its taxable property valuation.
(5) Directly benefit municipalities by pro-

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