Colorado River District board elects new officers

Andrew A. Mueller of Ouray County was unanimously elected on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, as the new president of the Colorado River District board of directors. Tom Sharp of Routt County was unanimously elected vice president.

Mueller is an attorney from Ridgway, and Sharp is an attorney from Steamboat Springs. Each will serve a one-year term presiding over the 15-member board of directors, which oversees the Colorado River District’s business.
The Colorado River District was formed under state law in 1937 to protect Western Colorado water in matters that include transmountain diversions, water supply, conservation and operation of the Colorado River Compacts.
The board saw other turn-of-the-year transitions. Each year, five members of the board are up for appointment. All appointments are handled by the respective county commissions of the member counties. Terms are for three years.
Reappointments included rancher Bill Trampe of Gunnison by Gunnison County, rancher Forrest Nelson of Meeker by Rio Blanco County and Mueller by Ouray County.
Newly appointed to the board by Garfield County was water engineer David Merritt of Glenwood Springs, replacing Dick Stephenson.
The board is awaiting an appointment from Montrose County for a seat currently held by Steve Mathis.
The board also saw an off-cycle vacancy filled when Delta County appointed fruit grower Tom Alvey of Hotchkiss. He replaced Pete Kasper, the outgoing board president. Also outstanding is an appointment from Eagle County to cover a resignation.
Incumbent board members include Sharp of Routt County, Rebie Hazard of Saguache County, Tom Long of Summit County, Tom Gray of Moffat County, James Newberry of Grand County, John Ely of Pitkin County, Dick Proctor of Mesa County and Warner Dewey of Hinsdale County.
In other action, the board approved a mission statement for the district. It reads: “To lead in the protection, conservation, use, and development of the water resources of the Colorado River basin for the welfare of the District, and to safeguard for Colorado all waters of the Colorado River to which the state is entitled.”
To learn more about the Colorado River District and its work, visit www.ColoradoRiverDistrict.org.