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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THE DAILY SENTINEL Friday, January 30.2004 01.30.04 George calls for cooperation By MICHAEL C. BENDER The Daily Sentinel NO RTHG LENN - Come together and move the water marker forward. That was the message Russ George gave Thursday to members of the Colorado Water Congress at the group's 46th annual convention. . "I do think, in spite of the complexity of what we're about and the competing forces that we all wrestle with, that we can do more together than we have," George said. "I think we owe it to all of our friends and neighbors to do a good job while we're here and therefore a better job for state of Colorado. "Between us, we can do it together. Let's get on with it." George, the newly appointed Department of Natural Resources executive director, addressed the water congress for the first time Thursday in his new job. George was the Division of Wildlife director since 1998 and state House speaker before that. The Rifle native used his speech to call for cooperation, hard work and honesty from the group of water lobbyists, lawyers and providers. "That was vintage Russ George," Greg Hoskin of the Colorado Water Conservation Board said later. 'This is how he operated in the House of Representative.s. He can take a tough stand and give you a fight, but afterwards he'll find you and talk to you and remain friends." George assured the group - he received a strong ovation in return - his devotion to the Slope would not affect his decisions on statewide issues. "Some of you may ponder, W hat's this West Slope boy going to do?'" said George, who stepped into his new job 18 days ago. 'Well, 1 make no secretthat I am yv est Slope in my heart. , "I make a promise to you I won't make decisions about water based upon where I come from. I will always try to make those decisions based upon what is the best statewide solution. You have my word."