MINUTES OF THE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT SUBDISTRICT OF THE
CENTRAL COLORADO WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
March 21, 2023
The regular monthly meeting of the Groundwater Management Subdistrict of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District was held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at the office of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District located at 3209 W. 28th St. Greeley, Colorado. The meeting was called to order at 10:00 A.M. by Chairman Ralph Anders and the following Directors were present: Ralph Anders, President; Chad Schafer, Vice President; Bret Schmidt, Treasurer; Frank Eckhardt, At Large; David Bernhardt; Steve Bruntz; Doug Dill; Vern Kammerzell; Everett Kissler; Randy Knutson and Don Rosenbrock. Alan Axton; Dan Kammerzell and Gary Herman attended by video conference. Director absent was Alan Mazzotti.
Others present were Randy Ray, Executive Director; William Mihelich, District Engineer; Courtney Sandoval, Water Quality Coordinator and Lynn Kramer, Contracts Manager. Special guests were Brad Grasmick of Lawrence Custer Grasmick Jones & Donovan. Ed Armbruster of White Sands Water Engineers attended by video conference.
ACCEPT INTO THE RECORD THE CONSENT CALENDAR, FINANCIALS, AND MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 2023 AS PRESENTED.
MOTION: DAVE BERNHARDT
SECOND: BRET SCHMIDT
MOTION CARRIED
Public Discussion
Margaret McWeeney of Gallagher presented an insurance coverage and premium summary for May 1, 2023 through May 1, 2024.
Action Items
Lynn Kramer presented Petitions for Water Allotment Contracts needing board approval.
MOVE TO APPROVE THE REVISED GMS CLASS D IRRIGATION WATER ALLOTMENT CONTRACT #1306 WESTERN EQUIPMENT & TRUCK INC WITH THE ADDITIONAL ACRE FEET OF CONSUMPTIVE USE.
MOTION: DAVE BERNHARDT
SECOND: CHAD SCHAFER
MOTION CARRIED
MOVE TO APPROVE THE REVISED GMS CLASS D IRRIGATION WATER ALLOTMENT CONTRACT #318 SYNGENTA SEEDS INC WITH THE UPDATED METHOD OF IRRIGATION.
MOTION: RANDY KNUTSON
SECOND: EVERETT KISSLER
MOTION CARRIED
MOVE TO APPROVE THE TRANSFER OF GMS CLASS D IRRIGATION WATER ALLOTMENT CONTRACT #1292 CARL & KATHERINE HERGENREDER TO GMS CLASS D IRRIGATION WATER ALLOTMENT CONTRACT #1330 LARSON FARMS AND FEEDING LLC.
MOTION: EVERETT KISSLER
SECOND: DON ROSENBROCK
MOTION CARRIED
MOVE TO APPROVE THE TRANSFER OF GMS CLASS D IRRIGATION WATER ALLOTMENT CONTRACT #428 CAROL J. SARCHET TO GMS CLASS D IRRIGATION WATER ALLOTMENT CONTRACT #1331 JAMES MELVEL SARCHET.
MOTION: CHAD SCHAFER
SECOND: FRANK ECKHARDT
MOTION CARRIED
Legal Action Items
There was none.
Legal Reports
Brad Grasmick reviewed the January and February resume.
MOVE TO OPPOSE CASE 2023CW3011.
MOTION: DAVE BERNHARDT
SECOND: DOUG DILL
MOTION CARRIED WITH ALAN AXTON VOTING NAY
MOVE TO OPPOSE CASE 2023CW3012.
MOTION: CHAD SCHAFER
SECOND: RANDY KNUTSON
MOTION CARRIED
Brad presented a Water Court update. He updated the board on the Catlin with the Farmers Independent Ditch Company. The board discussed waiting to file the SWSP on the FIDCO shares.
Randy discussed leasing the Meining farm, the house on the property and the FIDCO shares. Discussion followed regarding costs and renters.
MOVE TO APPROVE LEASING THE MEINING FARM, THE FIDCO SHARES AND THE HOUSE LOCATED ON THE MEINING FARM.
MOTION: DAVE BERNHARDT
SECOND: CHAD SCHAFER
MOTION CARRIED
Brad continued his Water Court update including the Castle Rock case, the Parker water rights application for the Freemont Butte Reservoir and the BennT application. He notified the board about a meeting regarding the Town of Lochbuie acquiring a Chatfield allocation. Brad then updated the board on the case of Hill vs Warsewa.
Adjourned for lunch at 12:00 P.M.
Subdistrict Action
The board held a discussion regarding Permanent Transfers to wells that have a priority date junior to 1972.
MOVE TO EXTEND THE MORITORIUM ON THE TRANSFER OF WATER ALLOTMENT CONTRACTS WITH WELLS HAVING A PRIORITY DATE SENIOR TO 1972 TO CONTRACTS WITH WELLS HAVING A PRIORITY DATE JUNIOR TO 1972.
MOTION: CHAD SCHAFER
SECOND: BRET SCHMIDT
MOTION CARRIED
MOVE TO DELETE GMS CLASS D NON-IRRIGATION CONTRACT #537 TRI-COUNTY REAL ESTATE.
MOTION: CHAD SCHAFER
SECOND: RANDY KNUTSON
MOTION CARRIED
Randy reviewed the Capital projects budget update.
MOVE TO APPROVE THE CEI ESTIMATES TO IMPORT RIP RAP TO HOKESTRA, GEISERT, SHORES AND WIGGINS.
MOTION: STEVE BRUNTZ
SECOND: DAVE BERNHARDT
MOTION CARRIED
Billy Mihelich reviewed the annual quota scenarios with the board. Discussion followed.
MOVE TO SET THE GMS 2023 ANNUAL QUOTA AT 35%.
MOTION: VERN KAMMERZELL
SECOND: EVERETT KISSLER
MOTION CARRIED
Staff Action
Randy Ray presented a Resolution to recognize seeking Federal support for an update of the 1982 Six State High Plains-Ogallala Aquifer Regional Resources Study. The resolution and multi-party agreement will be presented at the April board meeting.
MOVE TO HAVE BRAD GRASMICK MODIFY THE DRAFT RESOLUTION REGARDING THE UPDATE OF THE 1982 SIX STATE HIGH PLAINS-OGALLALA AQUIFER REGIONAL RESOURCES STUDY TO FIT CCWCD’S POSITION.
MOTION: FRANK ECKHARDT
SECOND: EVERETT KISSLER
MOTION CARRIED
Presidents Report
There was none.
Subdistrict Report
Billy Mihelich provided the operational reports and reviewed the snowpack and precipitation outlooks.
Secretaries Report
Randy Ray informed the board that Todd Snidow has left Stifel and a new representative from Stifel has contacted him.
Randy talked about the 2023 Water Projects Bill and will attend the reading of the bill later this week. He also reviewed an article regarding sports wagering funds being allocated to water projects and an article about trucking Missouri River water.
Randy then reviewed the events calendar.
New Business
There was none.
MOVE TO ADJOURN.
MOTION: EVERETT KISSLER
SECOND: CHAD SCHAFER
MOTION CARRIED
The regular meeting was adjourned at 1:43 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lynn Kramer