MINUTES OF THE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT SUBDISTRICT OF THE CENTRAL COLORADO WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
March 25, 2025

The regular monthly meeting of the Groundwater Management Subdistrict of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District was held on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 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; Frank Eckhardt, At Large; Dave Bernhardt; Steve Bruntz; Doug Dill; Calven Goza; Dan Kammerzell; Everett Kissler; Randy Knutson; John Mark; Alan Mazzotti, Bret Schmidt and Chad Schafer. Gary Herman was absent.

Others present were Randy Ray, Executive Director; Billy Mihelich, District Engineer; Evan McCurnin, Water Resources Analyst and Lynn Kramer, Contracts Manager. Special guest was Brad Grasmick of Lawrence Custer Grasmick Jones & Donovan.

ACCEPT INTO THE RECORD THE CONSENT CALENDAR, FINANCIALS, AND ALL MINUTES OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH 2025 AS PRESENTED.
MOTION: DOUG DILL
SECOND: DAVE BERNHARDT
MOTION CARRIED

Public Discussion

CLOSE THE PUBLIC MEETING AND ADJOURN INTO AN INCLUSION HEARING FOR HJC FAMILY FARM LLC TO INCLUDE THE NW1/4 SECTION 17, TOWNSHIP 4 NORTH, RANGE 65 WEST INTO THE BOUNDARIES OF THE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT SUBDISTRICT.
MOTION: JOHN MARK
SECOND: STEVE BRUNTZ
MOTION CARRIED AT 10:02 A.M.

Action Items

Lynn Kramer presented Petitions for Water Allotment Contracts needing board approval.

MOVE TO APPROVE THE NAME CHANGE ON GMS CLASS D IRRIGATION WATER ALLOTMENT CONTRACT #233 FROM ALVIN DECHANT JR. TO ALVIN & DONNA DECHANT LIVING TRUST.
MOTION: ALAN MAZZOTTI
SECOND: BRET SCHMIDT
MOTION CARRIED

MOVE TO APPROVE THE NAME CHANGE ON GMS CLASS D IRRIGATION WATER ALLOTMENT CONTRACT #234 FROM ALVIN DECHANT JR. TO ALVIN & DONNA DECHANT LIVING TRUST.
MOTION: STEVE BRUNTZ
SECOND: JOHN MARK
MOTION CARRIED

MOVE TO APPROVE THE NAME CHANGE ON GMS CLASS D IRRIGATION WATER ALLOTMENT CONTRACT #1136 FROM ALVIN DECHANT JR. TO ALVIN & DONNA DECHANT LIVING TRUST.
MOTION: JOHN MARK
SECOND: BRET SCHMIDT
MOTION CARRIED

MOVE TO APPROVE THE REVISED GMS CLASS D IRRIGATION WATER ALLOTMENT CONTRACT #1252 RICHARD J. & SHAN M. CRAVEN, RILEY J. CRAVEN AND RORY J. CRAVEN.
MOTION: CHAD SCHAFER
SECOND: ALAN MAZZOTTI
MOTION CARRIED

MOVE TO APPROVE THE REVISED GMS CLASS D IRRIGATION WATER ALLOTMENT CONTRACT #1054 JOEL E. & ANGELA L. RITCHEY.
MOTION: ALAN MAZZOTTI
SECOND: JOHN MARK
MOTION CARRIED

MOVE TO APPROVE THE REVISED GMS CLASS D IRRIGATION WATER ALLOTMENT CONTRACT #1268 RITCHEY LAND COMPANY LLC.
MOTION: BRET SCHMIDT
SECOND: FRANK ECKHARDT
MOTION CARRIED

MOVE TO APPROVE THE NEW GMS CLASS D IRRIGATION WATER ALLOTMENT CONTRACT #1352 HJC FAMILY FARM LLC.
MOTION: EVERETT KISSLER
SECOND: JOHN MARK
MOTION CARRIED

MOVE TO APPROVE THE NEW GMS CLASS D IRRIGATION WATER ALLOTMENT CONTRACT #1353 LITTLE PLATTE FARM LLC.
MOTION: ALAN MAZZOTTI
SECOND: RANDY KNUTSON
MOTION CARRIED

MOVE TO APPROVE THE REVISED GMS CLASS D NON-IRRIGATION WATER ALLOTMENT CONTRACT #401 EMPIRE DAIRY LLC.
MOTION: ALAN MAZZOTTI
SECOND: JOHN MARK
MOTION CARRIED WITH STEVE BRUNTZ ABSTAINING

Legal Action Items

Brad Grasmick presented the January and February Resumes.

MOVE TO FILE AN OPPOSITION IN CASE 25CW3001.
MOTION: DAN KAMMERZELL
SECOND: DAVE BERNHARDT
MOTION CARRIED

MOVE TO FILE AN OPPOSITION IN CASE 25CW3004.
MOTION: DAVE BERNHARDT
SECOND: BRET SCHMIDT
MOTION CARRIED

MOVE TO FILE AN OPPOSITION IN CASE 25CW3009.
MOTION: DAVE BERNHARDT
SECOND: DOUG DILL
MOTION CARRIED

MOVE TO FILE AN OPPOSITION IN CASE 25CW3017.
MOTION: DAVE BERNHARDT
SECOND: DOUG DILL
MOTION CARRIED

Legal/Legislative Reports

Brad Grasmick gave a Water Court update including the Parker case, BennT case, Montava case, the Western and Farmers Independent change cases and the change application in the Chatfield case.

Director Eckhardt suggested a history of the Hardin decree be given for the benefit of the newer board members. It will be done at the April board meeting.

Brad gave an update on a meeting he and Billy Mihelich had with the Weld County Commissioners regarding participation in the Chatfield project.

Brad gave a legislative update stating the Water Quality Standards bill died.

District Action

Randy discussed the Chatfield CWCB Loan Resolution.

The board discussed an additional Water Quality Employee.

MOVE TO APPROVE HIRING AN ADDITIONAL WATER QUALITY EMPLOYEE.
MOTION: CHAD SCHAFER
SECOND: JOHN MARK
MOTION CARRIED

Randy updated the board on several possible acquisitions of senior water rights.

The bids for the Nissen Reservoir Inlet/Outlet structures have not been completed. The board discussed having the Executive Committee select the winning bid for the run-down channel.

MOVE TO HAVE THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE APPROVE THE BID ON THE RUN-DOWN CHANNEL AND THE DECISION WILL BE RATIFIED AT THE APRIL BOARD MEETING.
MOTION: DAVE BERNHARDT
SECOND: EVERETT KISSLER
MOTION CARRIED

Tammy Rusch presented the Poudre Heritage Alliance request for support.

MOVE TO SEND THE LETTERS OF SUPPORT REQUEST BY THE POUDRE HERITAGE ALLIANCE.
MOTION: EVERETT KISSLER
SECOND: FRANK ECKHARDT
MOTION CARRIED

Tammy then presented a “Thank You” from Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom.

Subdistrict Action

Billy Mihelich presented options for the 2025 Quota.

MOVE TO SET THE 2025 GMS QUOTA AT 50%
MOTION: CHAD SCHAFER
SECOND: DAVE BERNHARDT
MOTION CARRIED

President Anders opened three bids to lease five shares of Farmers Independent Ditch.

MOVE TO ACCEPT THE BID FROM ECKHARDT FARMS TO LEASE THE FIVE SHARES OF FARMERS INDEPENDENT DITCH.
MOTION: CHAD SCHAFER
SECOND: BRET SCHMIDT
MOTION CARRIED WITH FRANK ECKHARDT ABSTAINING

Randy updated the board on the Plumb Ditch annual meeting which was held March 12, 2025. The stockholders adjourned the meeting without electing directors for the upcoming year. Brad Grasmick gave his opinion on the election of directors for the rescheduled stockholders meeting of the Plumb Ditch to be held Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

Staff Action

Billy presented the Seventh Amended and Restated Water Lease with Hoshiko Farms.

MOVE TO APPROVE THE SEVENTH AMENDED AND RESTATED WATER LEASE WITH HOSHIKO FARMS INC AND HOSHIKO WATER LLC.
MOTION: STEVE BRUNTZ
SECOND: DOUG DILL
MOTION CARRIED

President’s Report

President Anders reminded the board about the Annual Member Meeting this Friday, March 28th.

Education Report

There was no Education Report.

Water Quality Report

There was no Water Quality Report.

Subdistrict Report

Billy Mihelich presented the report on the Chatfield Reservoir Joint-Use Zone and provided the operational reports and precipitation outlook.

District Report

There was no District Report.

Secretaries Report

Secretary Ray reviewed the board calendar, presented an article regarding the Northern Integrated Supply Project and reviewed the Lower Arkansas District Resolution 2025-02.

Randy discussed the renewal for insurance. Two carriers have been invited to give presentations at the April board meeting.

Randy gave an update on the progress at the Sweet Valley site.

New Business

There was no new business.

MOVE TO ADJOURN.
MOTION: EVERETT KISSLER
SECOND: BRET SCHMIDT
MOTION CARRIED

The regular meeting was adjourned at 12:46 P.M.