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<br />Desire to serve the public and good timing led <br />State Engineer Hal Simpson into vvater arena <br /> <br />Aseries of events brought water in accordance with state as the protection and recovery of endan- <br />changes for State Engi- statutes and interstate com- gered species and interstate compacts. Even <br />neer Hal Simpson in the pacts, implementation of a though I am a non-voting member, I enjoy <br />late 1960's. Simpson, then a statewide dam safety program, being involved and providing my input," he <br />graduate student at Colorado permitting of ground water use says. Simpson appreciates the complimen- <br />State University was finishing and well construction, and the tary relationship between the CWCB and <br />his M.S. thesis in civil engineer- collection and dissemination of DVVR that began with former CWCB Direc- <br />ing and considering pursuing his data on water use and stream- tor Chuck Lile. He is equally optimistic to <br />Ph.D. when he received his draft flows. The State Engineer is Col- continue the same cooperation with the <br />notice from the Army. orado's commissioner on five current director, Rod Kuharich. Simpson is <br />Meanwhile, Simpson happened interstate compacts and is proud of a continuing cooperative effort <br />to pass the Air Force Academy, responsible for assuring compli- between the two agencies that has led to <br />which was still under construc- ance with these compacts. The the development of CDSS. He believes the <br />tion. A thought came to his mind-to serve a State Engineer is also the Executive Direc- tools that Decision Support Systems pro- <br />portion of his time as an officer with the US tor of the Colorado Ground Water Com- vide Colorado advantages in dealing with <br />Corps of Engineers (COE) that was building mission and is the Secretary of the Board of interstate issues as well as with water plan- <br />the Academy. He expressed his desire in a let- Examiners for Water Well Construction ning within the state. Simpson says he will <br />ter to the colonel in charge of the Omaha Dis- and Pump Installation Contractors. Simp- gladly accept if asked to serve on the CWCB <br />trict. Two weeks later, he was offered an son is also one of the ex-officio members of after retiring. <br />the CWCB. <br />opportunity to replace the construction- Simpson feels that his appointment as the <br />supervising captain who had been assigned Simpson's unique leadership and profound State Engineer was the highlight of his <br />to go to Vietnam. Simpson, the new father of straightforwardness, has earned him much career. "Not many people have that oppor- <br />a baby girl, accepted and agreed to serve an respect in the water using community. He tunity," he acknowledges. "Being involved <br />. Woo __e:~:a ye,"~~ a~ the condition for the CO;: posi- . un~ersta~ds.the ir:nportanc,e o,fb.e}ng the. with jnt;rst8~F' r.oruna~s.c<;IJ.f's.. ~~Sj3VV : <br /> <br /> <br />~~U'_v1 <br /> <br />.~ <br /> <br /> <br />... <br /> <br />''''''c <br />'M~-1IiIiII..I <br />, <br /> <br />I <br /> <br /> <br />Academy and Ft. Carson. <br /> <br />In late 1971, near the end of the Vietnam <br />War, Simpson received a letter from the <br />~rmy, a~~ing ifhe would ~onsi~er .e~r~y dis- <br /> <br />"It is important to explain to water users <br />why I make certain decisions, and give <br />them the opportunity to correct the prob- <br />lem," he notes. Simpson has the reputation <br />rofhpina f~ir ~nrl rp~<.:ron~h]p_u7~tpr Tl<.:pr<.: <br /> <br />opportunity to work with the good people <br />that work for us-division engineers, water <br />commissioners and the staffin Denver and <br />division offices," Simpson emphasizes. <br />.<;;imn<.:ron hp]ipup<.: th~t u7~tpr Tl<.:pr<.: ~<.: ~ <br />