Colorado Water Feb 2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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individuals who have been appointed or elected to this Roundtable include multi - generational farmers and elected representatives such as county commissioners, and board members of municipalities and water districts. In its December meeting, the members took time to introduce themselves and to explain the issues and concerns of their constituents. Although their constituencies are as diverse as the Upper South Platte Water Conservancy District at the River's headwaters to Phillips County in the far eastern part of the state, dozens of members expressed similar concerns, undoubtedly echo- ing the same preoccupations of the other eight roundtables. Among these were: the sustainabil- ity of agriculture; the problems of augmentation, return flow, and abandoned wells; issues related to burgeoning populations and the shift from ru- ral to urban uses; and fears of exhausted surface supplies, over appropriation and waning aquifers. The representative of the environmental and recreational interests was not alone in stating a desire to focus on maintaining stream and ripar- ian health, maximizing conservation efforts, and respecting the rights of all water rights holders. Many members gave a nod to the need of work- ing with governmental entities, be that the Na- tional Forest Service, the National Parks Service, or, of course, the State Governments of Colo- rado, Nebraska and Wyoming. The South Platte Basin runs through federal land included in the National Forest and National Park Systems. The members of the South Platte Basin Roundtable must be well versed with the demands of the 1923 South Platte River Compact and the 1942 Republican River Compact. A recent agree- ment between Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska dealing with compliance with the Endangered Species Act will require the members of the Roundtable to work in concert with these states as well. Most poignantly noted among these in- troductions was a recognition of the opportunity afforded by the negotiations in and among the roundtables to assure that the future of our state and of our very own children and grandchildren see adequate supplies of quality water for growth and sustainability. The South Platte Basin Roundtable has attended to the procedural requirements of the Act, per Colorado Revised Statute 37- 75- 104(2)(a)(II) and (4)(a)(V) & (VI), the roundtable has ap- pointed 10 at -large members, three non - voting members, and has adopted by -laws. The serious- ness and optimism with which the possibilities of the Act have been met were evidenced by the fact that more than 10 individuals vied for a spot as a non - voting member! In recognition of the importance that the most populated Metro areas of the state hold for the South Platte Basin, the roundtable appointed these non - voting mem- berships to Denver Water, Colorado Springs, and Aurora. Doug Kemper from Aurora has resigned, as he has taken a position as executive director of the Colorado Water Congress. The roundtable will vote on his replacement in its January meeting including the important step of appointing two representatives to the Interbasin Compact Committee. The members chose Eric Wilkinson, a member of the Colorado Water Conservancy Board, and Mike Shimmin, a water attorney who has represented clients in water Counties in the South Platte River Basin Upper Mountain Counties: Teller, Park, Clear Creek, and Gilpin High Plains Counties: Phillips, Yuma, Kit Carson, Lincoln and Cheyenne Lower Platte Counties: Sedgwick, Logan, Morgan, and Washington Northern reaches Counties: Larimer, Boulder, and Weld Denver Metro area: Adams, Denver and Jefferson South Metro area: Arapahoe, Elbert, Douglas and a small portion of El Paso 14