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Home My WebLink About20061569.tiff • ti1Ps co e74). 4,♦4' �3 JERRY BEAVERS COUNTY ; ... QUENTIN "BUD" BIESEMEIER -� w A COMMISSIONERS "°�" SUSAN E. Rou, Come to see Stay m u,) 221 S. INTEROCE uv � (// 970-854-2464 HOLYOKE, COLORADO 80734 C,'` Co,,,,,,,,,,,tY e9'� FAX 970-854-3811 OLORA8) May 31, 2006 Honorable Governor Owens Colorado State Capitol 136 State Capitol Denver, Co 80203 RE: Disaster Declaration in Weld County Dear Governor Owens: Attached find our Resolution of Support for the recent Disaster Declaration of Weld County. The recent shutting down of 449 alluvial wells has serious impacts on eastern Colorado and the Colorado agricultural industry. We urge you to take whatever action is appropriate to bring relief to this vital portion of our economy. We appreciate your consideration. Sincerely, Quentin Biesemeier, Chairman (30 Jerry Beavers C �tiacc j �C 'Swan Roll Phillips County Commissioners Enclosure: Resolution of Support CC: Weld County Commissioners 7td`' 00 C4 ©ay` 2006-1569 Dl� - la -vim RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT RE: DECLARATION OF SUPPORT FOR WELD COUNTY DISASTER EMERGENCY WHEREAS,the Board of Phillips County Commissioners has received and acknowledged the recent declaration of Disaster Emergency in Weld County, and WHEREAS, in 2006, two events have worked to cause an emergency situation for farmers in the South Platte River Basin in Weld County, those being below average snowfall since January and below average precipitation in Weld County this Spring, and the refusal by the Colorado State Engineer in May,2006, to allow 449 alluvial wells to continue to withdraw water for irrigation; and WHEREAS, under Colorado Water Law, the alluvial wells must provide water to the South Platte River in the form of senior water rights to replace the water they consume, and WHEREAS, in very dry years, the wells must replace more water than in average years; however, in the same dry years, it becomes much more difficult to obtain replacement supplies and well owners who cannot meet the replacement obligations are forbidden from pumping, and WHEREAS,based upon the early 2006 snowpack levels,many well owners purchased seed and other inputs, prepared the fields, and planted; however,because of the lack of precipitation, the NRCS Streamflow Forecast Map for May, 2006, issued by the office of the Colorado State Engineer, forecasts stream flow to 50 to 69 percent of average for the South Platte River Basin and lack of spring reins have left fields dry and necessitating the senior South Platte Ditches to place a call for water much earlier than in a normal year, and WHEREAS, as a result, no water is available for diversion by well owners, who rely upon the opportunity to store water during the runoff for later release during the irrigation season as replacement water, and the unexpected extremely dry conditions experienced in Spring, 2006 are the principal factor in the State Engineer's decision to curtail well pumping, and WHEREAS, the 449 affected wells serve over 25,000 acres of productive farm land, with many of the farms being irrigated principally or exclusively by well water, or being irrigated by well water as a supplement at those times when surface water ditches produce less than is needed to support a crop, and WHEREAS, the result is that production from the affected farms will be negligible, inputs already invested will be lost, and many farm owners and operators will be unable to meet existing obligations, with significant numbers of bankruptcies and foreclosures being anticipated, and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 24-32-2101, C.R.S., et. Seq. (the"Colorado Disaster Emergency Act of 1992"), and Title VI of PL 93-288, as amended,The Robert T Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act, Weld County may qualify for Federal Disaster Relief as long as the Board declares that there exists in Weld County a disaster emergency. • WHEREAS, the Board of Phillips County Commissioners finds that the economic viability of the Colorado agricultural economy has been seriously impacted by this emergency situation; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Phillips County, Colorado,that Phillips County hereby supports the declaration of a disaster emergency in effect within Weld County, Colorado and urge Governor Bill Owens to take action supporting this vital part of Colorado's economy. The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 31st day of May, A.D., 2006. ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS �� n- PHILLIPS CO P-32-4 \ l �Y>vvx i IJ9 4.:04.0 t o Ai Phillips County Clerk Quentin Biesemeier, Chairman Jer eavers CTe, aG� an Roll Resolution:resolution weld co. Hello