|
<br />
<br />C)
<br />
<br />t-.~
<br />~
<br />....1
<br />-..l
<br />
<br />(f) directly benefit existing irrigated lands
<br />by stabilizing the flow qf water and by
<br />increasing flow and rettlm flow of water
<br />(g) promoting the eomfprt, safety, and
<br />welfare of the people ol,Colorado.
<br />To accomplish all this, conservancy
<br />districts would be authotized to obtain
<br />rights~of'way for works, ~tax and contract
<br />to raise revenues, assum~ bonded
<br />indebtedness, and ccntric! with the
<br />United States for the cop,struction of
<br />facilities. But the act ItS~f did not create
<br />the Northern Colorado aeer
<br />Conservancy District, an no construction
<br />could begin until District oundaries were
<br />drawn up and petitions wete circulated and
<br />approved by those who ~ould receive
<br />direct and indirect benefits.
<br />As finally proposed, lthe Northern
<br />Colorado Water Conserv~ncy District
<br />included 2)16 sections of land totalling
<br />1,481,600 acres and a bolmdary line
<br />extending 603 miles. The (text step was to
<br />circulate petitions to the District Court of
<br />Weld County for organizdtion of the
<br />District. After several hu~dred copies of
<br />the petition were prepareg, they were
<br />submitted to the electorate for approval.
<br />According to the Cohservancy
<br />District Act, they had to ~e approved by
<br />at least 1,500 owners of iqigated property
<br />and 1,000 owners of non~inligated property
<br />or municipal property. Volunteers
<br />circulated the petitions and;Were successful
<br />in getting double the requ(red number of
<br />signatures. After certificati~n of the
<br />validity of the signatures was completed,
<br />Attorneys Kelly and Nixor( prepared a
<br />formal request for organiza~ion by the
<br />District Court. At a hearing held
<br />September 20. 1937, Judge!Claude C.
<br />Coffin declared the District formed and
<br />announced that he would appoint the
<br />members of the Board on &ptember 28.
<br />This was duly accomplishe4, and on
<br />September 29, the first NCWCD Board
<br />held its first meeting with the following
<br />appointees: '
<br />
<br />Boulder County: W. E. Lenord, Ray
<br />Lanyon ,
<br />Larimer County: R. C. Berlson, Ed F.
<br />Munroe, Ralph W. MeMu","
<br />Weld County: Charles Hansen! Moses E.
<br />Smith, W. A. Carlson .
<br />Morgan and Washington Copndes: J. M.
<br />Dille :
<br />Logan County: Robert J. 'w,right
<br />Sedgwick Counry: Charles 1\1. Rolfson
<br />
<br />All of these men had bden Directors
<br />of the NCWUA except Lanyor, Munroe,
<br />and McMurry. Charles Hans~n was
<br />unanimously named President and
<br />Chainnan of the Board! NixQn and Kelly
<br />were the designated Attorneys, and J. M.
<br />Dille was elected the first Se?retary.
<br />14anager. ;
<br />
<br />The prime task of the first NCWCD
<br />Board was the negotiation of a contract
<br />with the United States for the construction
<br />of the C~ BT by the Bureau of Reclamation.
<br />Although the essence of a plan had been
<br />discussed many times during the steps
<br />leading up to the Conservancy District
<br />Act, both the Board and the Bureau
<br />recognized'that this project was unique.
<br />In the first place. the C.BT Project
<br />was designed to provide supplemental
<br />water to an already developed area in
<br />contrast to previous reclamation projects
<br />which had brought water to new or desert
<br />lands. Secondly, the Board faced a
<br />responsibility to District voters who would
<br />have to approve any Repayment Contract.
<br />After months of negotiations between
<br />the District and the Bureau, a document
<br />was printed in 10'cal newspapers as a
<br />"Resolution." Numerous meetings were
<br />held in all parts of the District to discuss
<br />the pros and cons of delivering 310,000
<br />acre..feet of water into the St. Vrain, Little
<br />and Big Thompson, and Poudre Rivers at
<br />a cost to the District that would not exceed
<br />$25 million.
<br />All power features were to be the
<br />responsibility of the Bureau; all irrigation
<br />distribution canals on the East Slope would
<br />be under control of the District; and some
<br />facilities used for both power and irrigation
<br />would be maintained by the Bureau with
<br />the District reimbursing the government
<br />one half of the annual cost of operation.
<br />Along with other features of the
<br />"Resolution, II these stipulations were
<br />favorably accepted by the electorate on
<br />June 28. 193B: 7,538forand439against.
<br />As a part of this election, the voters also
<br />approved the assessment of a one mill ad
<br />valorem levy against aU property in the
<br />District to continue in effect until at least
<br />the year 2002. One month previously, they
<br />had been approved by Secretary Ickes. The
<br />contract was in effect.
<br />
<br />NCWCD kader,
<br />signing repayment
<br />contract for
<br />construction of
<br />Colorado.Big
<br />Thompson Project
<br />
<br />The only additional event that
<br />threatened the legality of the Conservancy
<br />District Act and the NCWCDwas a "quo
<br />warranto" suit filed against the District
<br />Board by the State Attorney General,
<br />Byron Rogers.
<br />Because so much of what had been
<br />done - was breaking new ground in water
<br />law, and because of the statewide
<br />implications of the conservancy district
<br />idea, it was generally agreed that the
<br />constitutionality of the measure should be
<br />tested in the Colorado State Supreme
<br />Court. With Attorneys Nixon and Kelly
<br />presenting oral arguments and voluminous
<br />briefs in defense of the Conservancy
<br />Djstrict Act, - the Supreme Court
<br />announced its unanimous opinion
<br />confirming the legality .of the measure in
<br />May 1938. This is known as the Letfard
<br />Case.
<br />The events of 1937 represent a
<br />milestone for Colorado's water legislation
<br />and administration. Celebrating the
<br />Fiftieth Anniversary of the Colorado
<br />Water Conservancy District Act, the
<br />Colorado Water Conservation Board, and
<br />the Northern Colorado Water
<br />Conservancy District is more than just a
<br />golden jubilee for present~day residents of
<br />the District.
<br />It is a testimony to the foresight and
<br />courage of men who were not afraid to take
<br />bold steps toward a distant future, who
<br />were able to see beyond the ends of their
<br />noses; and who recognized how water could
<br />best be used for the growth and
<br />development of all the state's residents.
<br />They borrowed ideas from other states, but
<br />they invented a system that was unique to
<br />their region and one which has had an
<br />overwhelming impact on the Front Range
<br />ever since. Nineteen thirty seven was!
<br />indeed! a banner year.
<br />
<br />4
<br />
<br />,
<br />I
<br />
|