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Interview With Larry McDaniel, Water Attorney Editors Note: Larry McDaniel, long time Durango water attorney, has been involved with water and water law for over 50 years in southwestern Colorado. He presently serves as legal counsel for the Florida Water Conservancy District and the Animas Water Company. Mr. McDaniel is a graduate of the University of Colorado Law School. WIP: How did you get your start as an attorney in Colorado? Larry McDaniel: As a young man growing up in the Durango area, an older gentleman, Ben Russell encouraged me, "Boy, you ought to be a lawyer!" I attended the old Fort (Lewis College) for 2 years, then University of Colorado at Boulder for one year. Money was tight in those days, and I also took some time out to serve our country in the armed forces in World War II. It wasn't until after the war that I was able to finish my law degree. WIP: How long have you been in the water business in Colorado? Larry McDaniel: I roomed with Bud Griffith (long time Durango resident, who recently passed away) at college. Bud was an original member of the Florida Water Conservancy District, which was formed in August, 1948. But we didn't have any money; just a dream to improve the irrigation on the Florida Mesa. In December, 1949, the Lemon Reservoir project was approved as one of the participating projects on the Upper Colorado Basin project list. But it wasn't until 1960 that we finally received funding for the Florida Water Project. Construction began in 1961 and the District began delivering water in 1963 on Florida Mesa. WIP: What difference did 'stored water' make on the Florida River? Larry McDaniel: When we originally planned the water project, we approached the City of Durango. Jim Wigglesworth was the city manager at the time, but the city turned down any participation in the Florida Water Project. Prior to Lemon Reservoir, the Farmer's Ditch would usually be out of water by July 15th. Once we had stored water, the ditches could run until fall. WIP: When did you get involved with the Animas W'llter Company? Larry McDaniel: The Animas Water Company was set up as a non-profit corporation in 1970, in order to provide water for the Animas Valley. At that time there was a proliferation of septic tanks, and some wells in the valley were being contaminated from these septic systems. A domestic water system was needed for a safe drinking water supply. We purchased water from the City of Durango for a number of years. However, we recently have shifted our water supply to deep water wells in the Animas Valley WIP: Tell us about water issues in Colorado? Larry McDaniel: First, we need to communicate that water rights are a property right. Most of the water in Colorado is spoken for, so you just can't go 'stealing' someone's water from the stream. Second, we need to educate people on water usage. Natural rainfall and inflows on the Florida River are not sufficient for water users, unless we have storage in Lemon Reservoir. Thirdly, we need to store all the water we can. The Animas-La Plata should be build at the full size. Farmers aren't the only ones who irrigate. City dwellers use water for lawns, washing cars and other summer activities. , Cloud Seeding Program Continued From Page 1 . . . the target area. To produce the artificial ice nuclei, these generators burn an acetone-silver iodine solution from a pressurized tank. The artificial nuclei are called silver iodine crystals (AgI) and resemble a natural ice crystal. The flow of the solution mix can also be changed so that various seeding rates are obtained. Once the crystals are produced by the cloud seeding generators, they are carried into the base of the cloud system by wind currents and mountain induced orographic lift. The silver iodine (AgI) crystals become nuclei for snowflakes by collecting enough moisture and falling as additional snow. As part of the cloud seeding program, Western Weather Consultants also must monitor incoming cloud system for directional movement, moisture and temperature. From this information it is possible to determine whether a cloud system has a potential for cloud seeding and how long a cloud seeding event will continue. Other conditions monitored in determining whether a weather system is seedable are: 1) avalanche and snowpack conditions; 2) possible very heavy participation; 3) highway and road concerns and; 4) wildlife concerns. At the discretion of the sponsors of the cloud seeding program, there may be extensions or curtailment of each year's program. Presently the cloud seeding program begins on November 1 and runs through January 31 for each respective cloud seeding program year. For more information call Western Weather Consultants at (970) 247-8813. , 2