Water News: Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District Volume 1 Issue 12

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SPECIAL TRIBUTE PAST CHARTER MEMBER - FRANK DILLEY Frank Dilley, a charter member of the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, died on May 6, 2000. Frank served on the Board of Directors for the District from 1958 to 1972, worked with two successive Managers, and read with interest the monthly meeting_ reports into his last year. - T His struggle with a lengthy illness kept him inactive with the District and away from pursuing his dedication to h e l p i n g m a n a g e Colorado water. He was born November 16, 1911 in Abilene, Kansas. His parents moved to Canon City when he was two months old. His love for cattle came at a young age. He had his first cattle ranch in Guffy, Colorado in the 1930's. He married his wife Hazel in 1935. They purchased their existing ranch in Garden Park (north of Canon City) in 1940. They later purchased property in Westcliffe Colorado. Frank, a cattlemen at heart, knew the value of caring for the land, but he also knew that managing the water was critical. He told his children in the 50's, "In my lifetime j Americans +fir will be r Photo taken on August 16, 1962 the day President Kennedy signed the Fryingpan Project Bill into law. Four Directors of SECWCD (from left) Charles Irwin, Judge Elmer Martin, Frank Dilley and James Shown. tpay1ng more for a gallon of water than for a gallon of oil." He lived to see that and w a s concerned about it. Frank was a member of the National, state and local Cattlemen's Association for more than 60 years. He was past president of the Fremont County Cattlemen's Association. Frank was appointed to the first Board of Directors of the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District in May 1958. He enjoyed working with Charlie Boustead and Frank Milenski and other members of the board. Together they covered new ground for Arkansas Valley water. He felt Charlie Beise, the District lawyer, really did exceptional work. Frank and Hazel attended meetings of the Colorado Water Congress, made trips to the Western Slope regarding the Ruedi Reservoir for Fryingpan- Arkansas Project. They made trips to water meetings in Las Vegas and Washington D.C. The trip to Washington D.C., in May 1961, was special to Frank as he particularly liked Congressman Judge Chenoweth. That particular trip, the Judge took the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District representatives to the ball game as his guest. August 1962, Frank & Hazel rode in the presidential motorcade when President John Kennedy came to sign the Fryingpan- Arkansas Project into law. Frank sat on the speaker's platform with President Kennedy and was one of the two men who had worn a hat. He was offered $1.00 for his hat by others suffering from the heat! He was survived by Hazel, their four daughters, and his Charolais cows. Hazel will remain on their ranch and continue Frank's concerns about water. Special thank you to Hazel Dilley for writing this article. WATER (Continued from Page 4) which will end on March 15, 2001. Agricultural users have approximately 35,000 acre -feet of carryover Project Water in their storage accounts, which must be delivered before May 1, 2001. In accordance with the District's Allocation Principles any Projec t Water remaining in the agricultural accounts after May 1, will revert to the Enterprise. The District and Enterprise currently have approximately 50,000 acre -feet of unallocated Project Water in storage at this time. While it is to early to make any forecast of next years imports of Project Water from the West Slope we are hopeful that new imports will add considerably to the Project Water supply available next year. Applications for the purchase of Project Water Return Flows will be mailed to water users in February of 2001. The Board of Directors of the Enterprise hopes to take action on the applications at the regular in eeting of the Board in March. Written by: Tom Simpson, Water Resources Manager, SEC WCD 5