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wants to find a way forward that has the support of as many at the table as <br />possible, without voting. <br />In response to Marsha's introduction, Hermosa Workgroup members commented <br />that the process seems to be modeled after that of the Animas River <br />Stakeholders' Group ( "ARSG "), which has been long and complicated but has <br />had a satisfactory outcome. Two things helped with that process: All the <br />stakeholders were presented with the same set of facts, rather than each party <br />hearing from a different consultant; and the participants felt they had a stake in <br />the process and were, therefore, willing to watch over it. Such a process is <br />focused on ideas rather than people, institutions or organizations. <br />ARSG probably could not have been more divided when it began, but came <br />together for the purpose of improving water quality in the upper Animas River <br />basin. That was something all participants could agree on. The process has <br />lasted 14 years, which is longer than many marriages! <br />One of the most important features of such a consensus -based process is that <br />every position is valid. No one is put down for an opinion. Patience is needed. <br />Therefore, Hermosa Workgroup members have established the following ground <br />rules for their process: <br />• Show respect. <br />• One person talks at a time. <br />• Everyone's opinion is important. <br />• Focus on figuring out accurate data about each issue. <br />• Speak up; don't hold back. <br />"Water 101 ": Bruce Whitehead, Executive Director of the Southwestern Water <br />Conservation District ( "SWCD "), and the Animas -La Plata Water Conservancy <br />District, passed out a newspaper column by John Porter, former General <br />Manager of the Dolores Water Conservancy District, explaining water rights. <br />Bruce then gave a "Water 101" talk on the basics of water law in Colorado. <br />The State of Colorado has seven water divisions, one for each major river <br />system. Southwest Colorado is in Water Division 7, the San Juan - Dolores <br />system, which encompasses waters from Wolf Creek Pass to the Utah line and <br />from Lizard Head Pass to the New Mexico state Fine. <br />Divisions are divided into water districts. The Hermosa Creek Watershed is in <br />Division 7, Water District 30, which encompasses the Animas River mainstem <br />and its tributaries, including the Florida River and Hermosa Creek. Information on <br />particular water districts is available at the Division of Water Resources Web site, <br />http: / /water.state.co.us /. <br />2 <br />