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<br />Maynes. Bradford, Shipps & Sheftel, LLP <br />Attorneys at Law <br /> <br />FRANKE, (SAM) MAyNES <br />THOMAS H. SHIPPS <br />JANICE C. SHEFfEL <br />PATRICIA A. HALO <br />SAMW, MAYNES <br />JOHN BARLOW SPEAR <br />STEVEN C. Boos...t <br /> <br />AsSOCIATES: <br /> <br />lARANNE A. BREAGY <br />CHRISTOPHER Z. CANTRELL <br />MONTET. MILLS <br /> <br />BYRON V, BRADFORD (1907-1985) <br />t ALSO ADMITfED IN ARIZONA AND NAVAJO NA nON <br />II- ALSO ADMIlTED IN CALIFORNIA, NEW MEXICO AND UTAH <br /> <br />(970)247-1755 <br />(970)247-8827 - FACSIMILE <br />jsheftel@mbssllp.com <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board ("CWCB") <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />Janice C. Sheftel <br /> <br />RE: <br /> <br />Ditch Bill Easement Update <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />January 20,2004 <br /> <br />As reported to the CWCB at its November meeting, an ad hoc Colorado Water Congress group, <br />comprised mainly of water rights attorneys, who had been working on Ditch Bill matters had <br />received no satisfaction, or even a response, from the US, Forest Service for almost four and <br />one-half years. Letters and telephone calls at both the regional and Washington levels went <br />unanswered. In response to our expression of frustration, the CWCB, suggested I work with the <br />Attorney General's office and CWCB staff. Conversations with Felicity Hannay, Carol Angel <br />and Dan Merriman have produced a two-pronged strategy. <br /> <br />1. Through informal discussions with Bob Storch, Supervisor, Grand Mesa, <br />Uncomphagre, Gunnison National Forests, we have been requested to transmit our Ditch Bill <br />concerns to Rick Cables, Regional Forester, Region 2, Rocky Mountain Region, US. Forest <br />Service, in writing and we were informed we should receive an immediate response. I am now <br />in the process of drafting the letter to Mr. Cables, The letter will outline the background of the <br />issue; suggest strongly that any USFS process for establishing procedures regarding the issuance <br />of Ditch Bill easements be a collaborative process with representatives of water users who have <br />been ignored for over four years, so that at the end ofthe process we have an acceptable product; <br />and, that Mr, Cables consider visiting with the CWCB at its March meeting concerning the US, <br />Forest Service's proposed Ditch Bill easement issuance process. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />WEST BUILDING - 835 EAST SECOND AVENUE, SUITE 123 <br />POST OFFICE Box 2717 <br />DURANGO, COLORADO 81302-2717 <br />