Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District is soliciting applications from residents interested in serving four-year terms on its board of directors.

Board secretary John Fetcher said this week the district is working on plans for some improved agricultural diversions on the Yampa River but doesn't have any plans to increase water storage in the wake of the drought of 2002.

"We don't have any plans for super-major projects like dams," Fetcher said.

Fetcher is among three directors seeking a new four-year term that would begin March 8. The others are Dick Palmer, representing the Yampa area, and Doug Monger, representing the Hayden area. Fetcher, who says this will probably be his last term, represents the Steamboat/North Routt area.

Steve Colby was recently appointed to complete the term of Joe deGanahl, which expires in 2004, Fetcher said.

People interested in serving on the board of the special water conservation district need to submit resumes to the Routt County Clerk by Feb. 8.

To be eligible, applicants must have resided in the district for at least one year and own real property in the district.

In addition, they must reside within the division they seek to represent.

Maps of the divisions are available for public viewing at the district office, 1175 Steamboat Blvd. The office is situated close to Fish Creek, behind the back nine of the Sheraton Steamboat Golf Course. It shares a building that also houses the drinking water filtration plant.

Fetcher said a project that is high on the district's priority list this summer would consolidate four major irrigation ditches into a single water diversion at a site on The Nature Conservancy's Carpenter Ranch.

One of the goals, Fetcher said, is to eliminate the need for ranchers and farmers to get into the Yampa River with equipment to gain access to the water they are entitled. That need is pronounced in low water years, Fetcher said.

The district has successfully completed similar projects on the Hogue, Carey and Brock ditches in the past, Fetcher said.

A similar project is being contemplated on Walton Creek in the area where the stream supplies water to the Catamount Ranch and Club golf course and Storm Mountain Ranch residential subdivision, Fetcher said.

-- To reach Tom Ross call 871-4205

or e-mail tross@steamboatpilot.com