HomeMy WebLinkAbout20121743.tiff RIVERSIDE IRD TRI ON
22I E.Kiowa Ave. Fort Morgan,CO 80701 (970)867-6586
July 6, 2012
Sean Conway X
Weld County Commissioner 111 c p
1150 O Street 0 Uo
PO Box 758 IT1_
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Greeley, CO 80632 < �y 2
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RE: Request for assistance w
Dear Mr. Conway,
We have received your letter of July 2 in which you request the assistance of water companies
in mitigating the drought conditions for well irrigators in Weld County. As you know, part of
our irrigation system lies within Weld County and part within Morgan County.
Your preference seems to be that well irrigators within Weld County be allowed unrestricted
use of their diversions without replacement to other affected water rights. This position either:
• expects one group to sacrifice its irrigation supply for another - without compensation,
or,
• implies that the method used to augment out-of-priority well depletions is legal fantasy.
All water users suffer under the current drought conditions. Many acres normally irrigated
under the Riverside Irrigation District are dried up for the season and virtually all the rest have a
sharply reduced supply with which to irrigate. Crop yields will be dramatically impacted in this
water short year. Riverside has not sought intervention by the State or expected others to
sacrifice their legally entitled water for our benefit. We have been through these drought
conditions many times in the last twelve years. This has happened before and it will happen
again. Each farm is blessed by its water rights in the order of their development. Such was the
wisdom of the framers of Colorado's Constitution.
Weld County's initial demand of Governor Hickenlooper to allow unrestricted pumping was
especially disappointing. As a leader in agricultural production among all counties in the United
States, Weld County should, better than others, understand the incredible importance of
protecting the river from exploitation by any special interest group.
While we agree that refinements could be made to the well augmentation method and its
requirements, we do not believe it to be legal fantasy. Some method must exist to protect the
alluvium and its contribution to the river flows. To upset the entire prior appropriations system
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2012-1743
out of convenience would be a tragic precedent for all future river problems. As always,it is
important to respect the law and appreciate its wisdom. The ends do not justify the means.
Riverside will consider any serious offer of settlement for the water to which we will be
deprived,but cannot in good conscience accept an unspecified and unlimited injury to our
stockholders and landowners. This would be an unfair burden to place upon them.
We stand with all Colorado farmers in this terrible drought. We gladly accepted last year's
river abundance. We endure this year's deprivation and pray for its termination.
Sinc.
CtA, C
Don Chapman,
Superintendent
Cc: Governor John Hickenlooper
Attorney General John Southers
Dick Wolfe,State Engineer,CO Division of Water Resources
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