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STATE OF COLORADO OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Department of Natural Resources 1313 Sherman Street, Room 718 Denver, Colorado 80203 Phone: (303) 866 - 3311 TDD: (303) 866 - 3543 FAX: (303) 866 - 2115 Bill Owens Governor Russell George Executive Direc tor NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Dawn Taylor Owens September 23, 2005 (303) 866 - 5887 First Meeting of Colorado Water Roundtable Held in Grand Junction DENVER – The first meeting of the Colorado basin water roundtable - a roundtable created through st House Bill 1177, also known as the “Colorado Water for the 21 Century Act” - was held last night in Grand Junction, bringing together representatives of water interests from the Colorado basin region. Russell George, Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR), as well as Director of Compact Negotiations, opened the meeting by exp ressing his hope that the roundtable process will usher in a new era of cooperation on water issues in Colorado that will prove beneficial well into the future. “When it comes to discussing water issues in Colorado, the discussion have historically been q uite contentions, but not anymore,” George said. “This process is going to be different - solutions are going to come from these meetings, not contention. I believe these basin roundtables can and will find real solutions to water issues that will benefit citizens from this state for years to come.” Discussions revolved around the vision and goals for the roundtable, at - large appointments, and what role the state should play in the process. George stressed the need for citizens from the basin to play the b iggest role, and pointed out that he envisions a locally - driven process, not a process managed by the state. “However, we are here to help in any way you see fit - we want to hear what role you would like the state to play,” said George. Rick Brown, acti ng Deputy Director for the Colorado Water Conservation Board, gave a detailed explanation of how the work already done by the Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) would be integrated into the interbasin compact process. ? Board of Land Commissioners Division of Minerals & Geology/Geological Survey ? ? Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Colorado State Parks State Forest Service ? ? Water Conservation Board Division of Water Resources Division of Wildlife