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<br />might have an interest in the study. A series of eight newsletters were sent to a mailing list of <br />more than two hundred names including local study participants, ditch company shareholders, <br /> <br />local chambers of commerce, local newspapers and all of the individuals and agencies on the <br /> <br />task memorandum mailing list. The newsletters were used to inform the public about the study <br /> <br />and to announce public meetings. <br /> <br />Meetings were held at regular intervals with the SMWCD and with representatives of the three <br /> <br />ditch companies to review work in progress and at critical decision points in the study process. <br /> <br />All meetings were open to the public. The public meetings and several of the briefings with the <br /> <br /> <br />SMWCD and the ditch companies were announced by articles in the local newspaper. <br /> <br />Two workshops were held with the leadership of the SMWCD and the three ditch companies for <br /> <br /> <br />detailed discussions of study area hydrology and system operations. The workshops were <br /> <br /> <br />invaluable to both the local study participants and the CWCB/Boyle Engineering study team in <br /> <br /> <br />arriving at a better mutual understanding of water supply and availability, runoff patterns, and <br /> <br />I, <br />, <br /> <br />ditch and reservoir operations as well as potential improvements to the existing irrigation <br /> <br />systems. <br /> <br />The public information program for Phase One was felt to be very successful. The preferred <br /> <br />alternative was developed and selected through an iterative process of educational efforts and <br /> <br />consensus building. A similar plan for an extensive public information program and <br /> <br />participation by interested parties in the study area has been implemented for Phase Two of the <br /> <br />study. <br /> <br />SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS <br /> <br />The San Miguel Water Supply Study began as a traditional feasibility study of a proposed water <br />project. From the first meetings with the local study participants, it became apparent that <br />extensive reconnaissance planning would have to precede any feasibility studies and that very <br /> <br />7 <br />