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11.03 .0)Land tug-of-war threatens couple's livelihood 001801 SEARCH: I Ie GJSentinel r Web . 11. ,('I)ll\~t t)f T\~ DlllIJ SC!lliilll*l. G1u4 Ju"ttWll. ~Io...jo Tell me how to: Buy a subscription Buy a print ad Buy an online ad Reach newsroom Reach web staff Write to the editor Set my homepaqe 11.03.02Land tug-of-war threatens couple's livelihood By MARIJA B. VADER The Daily Sentinel Imagine owning a piece of ground for nearly 40 years, growing peaches on it as part of your livelihood. Then, imagine the federal government suddenly asserting its ownership of the land, kicking you off, even though the land has been cultivated by independent farmers for more than a century. If that's not enough, now imagine the federal government is encroaching on a different area of your farm, and saying it has every right to be there. Now taking place in De Beque Canyon, this scenario has become "One of the most egregious examples of government arrogance imaginable," said Colorado Department of Natural Resources Chief Greg Walcher. In what Walcher also called a "weird" land ownership issue, a tug-of-war now pits the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation against farmers Herb and Thelma Hays. In the middle of the tug-of-war are four endangered fish species and the{M6 human efforts for their recovery. Earlier this month, the Hayses enlisted Walcher and Congressman Scott Mcinnis, R-Colo., to seek answers and accountability from the Bureau. The land in question is a 6-acre peach orchard with 577 trees in De Beque Canyon. It first grew food in 1882, 20 years before the bureau became a federal entity. The orchard is located north of the Colorado River and south of the Government Highline Canal. To people driving along Interstate 70, the farm offers a bucolic view of agriculture accented by{M6 the scenic rock cliffs{M6 . It is the only land under cultivation in De Beque Canyon. Thelma Hays grew up in De Beque Canyon, just downstream from where she now lives. To continue farming, she and Herb bought much of the property they now farm from her uncle. In 1963, in the final land purchase to complete their farm, the Hayses bought the orchard. Now 72, Thelma Hays says there was no time during her life when those six acres of ground did not produce food. The first hint of trouble knocked on the Hayses' door two years ago when "a man in a suit came to our house and said it was government ground," Thelma Hays said. Cc!) Page 1 of 4 CIi ck Here to find your Dream Home! You be the critic! Review movies Online with us, Need a job? Click here Track local stocks Get 10 cal news J It's yo ur Busi ness http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/newsfd/auto/feed/news/2002/11/03/1036303665.28610.6687.0805.htm1 11/4/02