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<br />ThIs Annual Report ls respectfully dedicated to Mr. Roy
<br />D. Cooper, one of Colorado's true pioneers in Water Resource
<br />Management.
<br />Roy was born October 28, 1910, and spent his entIre I1fe-
<br />time on an Irrigated farm in Bent County. AIter completing
<br />h1s educational work at Bent County High School In Las
<br />AnImas, he went to Colorado A&M In Fort Collllli1 to continue
<br />his Cormal education In the Agrlcul tural Sciences. Roy started
<br />farming for hlIn3elf In 1931, and was actively working on the
<br />farm on August 12, 1975 when he passed away very unexpected-
<br />ly. Roy was buried In the cemetery In Las Animas on August
<br />15, ilnd his funeral in the First Presbyterian Church was well
<br />attended by his many frIends from throughout the Valley, the
<br />State of Colorado and other Btates.
<br />Roy became very active In Water Resource Organizations
<br />at an early age. and served 8.5 a pr1nclpal Oft1cer In many of
<br />them. He served 8.9 Vice President of the Board of Directors
<br />or the Arkansas Valley Ditch .ASsociation from 1958 until 1973,
<br />and VIet' President of the Fort Lyon Canal Company Cram 1958
<br />until 1964, when he W&:l elected President each year until 1972.
<br />Roy served on the Board of Directors of the Water Development
<br />AssocIation or Southeastern Colorado from May 8, 1946 until
<br />It was disbanded in 1958.
<br />On May 13, 1958 he was appointed a Charter Member of
<br />the Board of Directors of the newly created Southeastern Colo-
<br />rado Water Conservancy District, as a Director from Bent
<br />County. The Conservancy DistrIct was a result of hard work
<br />by Roy, and many members of the Development Association,
<br />who worked for so many years to get the Frylngpan-Arkansas
<br />Project approved by the Congress of the United Btates. Roy
<br />was elected Vice President of the DIstrIct In 1958, and served
<br />In that capacity until the time of h18 death, reflecting the
<br />great confidence which the members or the Board, and others,
<br />reposed In hIs ab1lIt1es.
<br />Roy 18 survIved by hls beloved wife Anita, two chUdren,
<br />and a. number or grandchlldren.
<br />He was responsible for many improvements In Irrigation
<br />Management, and was awarded the coveted Headgate Award
<br />1n 1973 by the Four States irrigation Councll, an Orga.ntza.tlon
<br />representing the States of Wyoming, Nebr8.5ka, Kaneas and
<br />Colorado. He recelved many other awards, and served B8 the
<br />principal Officer or a number of Fra.ternal and Civic Orga.nlza-
<br />t1o~. Hl.s good works shs.ll live aa s. le..8":.lng memol1.s.1, p"nd an
<br />Inspiration to all who follow.
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<br />HISTORY
<br />
<br />The Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy
<br />District was created under Colorado State Statutes on
<br />April 29, 1958, by District Court in Pueblo, Colorado.
<br />It embraces approximately 280,000 irrigable acres in
<br />26,150 square miles in the Arkansas River Basin, with
<br />a population of approximately 500,000 people, and
<br />includes towns from Rural Unincorporated Munici-
<br />palities, to Cities in excess of 200,000 people, and
<br />areas ranging from very small farms to large ranch.
<br />ing operations. It truly is representative of "Rural
<br />America", where the agricultural sectors are suffering
<br />out-migration. and the larger metropolitan areas are
<br />faced with problems common to growing areas.
<br />
<br />The citizens in the Arkansas Valley realized long
<br />before 1958 that a well managed water supply held
<br />the key to the future growth and prosperity of the
<br />Basin in Colorado, and as a result of this sincere con.
<br />viction, they Petitioned the Court in Pueblo for per-
<br />mission to form a Water Conservancy District. The
<br />movement actually started as early as 1922. when a
<br />group of citizens from farms and cities joined together
<br />to start discussing ways of not only managing existing
<br />or decreed water supplies better, but also utilizing
<br />other waters in Colorado to which Ihey were legally
<br />entitled.
<br />
<br />Not only has the District grown in population
<br />since its creation. but also in valuation. When formed
<br />in 195f: it had s'n assessed valuation of slightly less
<br />than ,$400 million. and on January I, 1976, the valua.
<br />tion was $1,109,3]8.308.
<br />
<br />ROY D. COOPER
<br />Director - May 13, 1958-August 12, 1975
<br />Vice President - May 13, 1958-August 12, 1975
<br />
<br />DISTRICT POWER AND AUTHORITY
<br />
<br />Colorado Revised Statutes in 1963. Article 5
<br />passed by the Colorado General Assemb'ly in 1937:
<br />sets forth specific duties, powers and authorities of
<br />Water Consenanc}' Districts in the State of Colorado,
<br />and included in Article 5 are the following Sections:
<br />
<br />150.5.1 - Declaration (1). It is hereby
<br />declared that to provide for the conservation of
<br />\....ater resources of the State of Colorado, and for
<br />the greatest beneficial use of water within this
<br />State, the organization of Water Conservancy Dis-
<br />tricts. and the construction of works as herein
<br />defined by such Districts are a public use and
<br />will:
<br />
<br />(2) .Be essentially for the Puhlic henefit
<br />and ad\'antage of the people of the State of Cnlo.
<br />rado.
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<br />(;,1 ["directly benefit all industries of the
<br />State,
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<br />(4) Indirectly benefit the State of Colorado
<br />In the increase of its taxable property valuation.
<br />(5) Directly b~ndit municipalities hy rro.
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