UGRWCD - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District As a Water Resource Fellow
• Water Resource Fellow

Alana joined the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District as a Water Resource Fellow in March 2023. She earned her BS in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Administration and Policy from Northern Arizona University. Alana's responsibilities involve assisting UGRWCD staff in various programs, research, and planning, including watershed management and drought contingency planning, wet meadow and riparian restoration activities, field research, water policy research, education, and outreach. After completing her fellowship, Alana plans to pursue further education at the graduate level.

Job Titles:

• Board Member Profile
• Director / Division
• Member of the Grant Committee, Legislative Committee

Andrew "Andy" Spann was appointed to the UGRWCD Board of Directors in June 2016 representing Division 7, Gunnison River Basin. Andy's current term expires in 2022, although Andy reports that he will be submitting a letter of interest to Judge Steven Patrick in hopes of serving another term on the Board. The acorn didn't fall far from the tree when it comes to involvement in water issues. Andy's paternal grandfather, Lee Spann, served on the Upper Gunnison District ("District") Board of Directors from May 1982 to June 1998. Andy's father, Ken Spann, served on the District Board from July 2001 to June 2016. In addition, Lee served on the Colorado River District Board of Directors and Ken served on the Gunnison Basin Roundtable. Andy's sister, Laura Spann, is the program coordinator for the Southwestern Water Conservation District (SWCD). Laura oversees the SWCD's financial assistance program and Water Information Program, serves as an alternate for the district on the Water Congress State Affairs Committee, and monitors state water policy. She also serves on Water Education Colorado's board of directors. Andy's maternal grandfather, John Porter was a board member of the Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company; Southwestern Water Conservation District; Colorado Water and Power Authority; Colorado Water Congress; Colorado Foundation for Water Education; Colorado Water Trust; and the seven-state Colorado River Water Users Association. He served on the San Juan/Dolores Basin Roundtable and Colorado Inter-Basin Compact Committee, and was a negotiator for the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 1988. For 22 years, he managed the Dolores Water Conservancy District. He received many accolades for his water leadership, including the Colorado Wayne N. Aspinall Award, Water Leader of the Year in 2000, and the Citizen Award from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, as well as tribute from the Colorado House of Representatives in 2017. "A lot of the conversations during our family get-togethers revolve around water issues," said Andy. "As ranchers, we see firsthand the effects drought and climate change have on our operations, particularly with respect to water availability." Andy was born and raised in Gunnison where his family has ranched for six generations since 1878. Following his high school graduation, Andy attended Colorado State University in 2005 to study agricultural science and crop production. Andy's interest in mechanics drew him to transfer to Wyotech College in Laramie, WY where he earned his associates' degree in chassis fabrication and high performance engines. Andy returned to the Gunnison Valley and has been working full-time on his family's ranch for over a decade. Andy said that climate change and the past 20 years of dry conditions, which scientists are now terming a "megadrought," unfortunately means the Spann Ranch, which has been in the family for six generations now, will likely not be able to continue doing business as usual. "With diminishing snowpack and a shortened or nonexistent monsoon season, our pastures just can't support the number of cattle we've traditionally fed," said Andy. "Like most ranchers in the Gunnison Basin, we are going to have to adapt our operations." Andy serves as a member of the Grant Committee, Legislative Committee and Water Administration Committee for the UGRWCD Board. In addition, he serves as the agriculture representative on the Taylor Local Users Group, which was established to provide recommendations to the Bureau of Reclamation on operational flow releases from Taylor Park Reservoir. "Being a TLUG representative has been one of the most challenging and yet important responsibilities I have assumed for the District," said Andy. "It is a diverse, vocal group of individuals who all have a vested interest in water released from Taylor Reservoir. In spite of our different water user perspectives, I think the group as a whole has done a commendable job of reaching a consensus that best serves the interests of all water users while also taking into account that we're dealing with a limited resource that has also been affected by climate change." Andy said that he sees one of the biggest challenges for the District going forward is the proper management and allocation of water during these times of drought and population growth. "Agriculture has deep roots in the history of this valley, and I hope it can continue to be a driver in our economy," said Andy. "But as climate change, development and increased population put pressure on our watershed, we are all going to have to learn to adapt, cooperate and come up with creative solutions to sustain our way of life." "Director Spann is such a valuable asset to our organization for many reasons, but most importantly because of his history in this basin and his agricultural experience and knowledge of the water resources in this area," said Sonja Chavez, general manager of the UGRWCD. "We couldn't be more grateful that he chose to continue carrying on his family's water legacy." With Andy's long hours working on the family ranch and attending District Board and committee meetings, he doesn't have much spare time, but in those rare moments when he can get away, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Megan, and daughters, Parker and Layne, as well as hiking, hunting, snowmobiling and fishing. An avid horseman, Andy is also a member of the Gunnison Stockgrowers Association.

Job Titles:

• Water Resources Technician

Ari started at the District in 2023 as a crew member on the Wet Meadows Restoration project. He then moved into a larger role, using his background in ecological research and project management to assist with the technical and GIS aspects of wet meadows restoration, water monitoring, watershed management planning, and community wildfire planning. Ari earned his BS in Environmental Science from Drexel University in 2017, and his MSc in mercury ecotoxicology & lake trophic ecology from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2020.

Job Titles:

• Senior Water Resource Specialist / Office Manager

Beverly has been with the District since 2005. Since joining the District, she went on to receive her Master's Degree in Environmental Management and Planning. Beverly works as the senior water resource specialist and her duties include contract management; grant, cloudseeding, and augmentation program management; watershed management planning; reporting, tracking, and researching historical hydrology within the basin; and providing GIS support.

Job Titles:

• Board Member Profile
• Chairman of the Outreach / Education and Finance Committees
• Treasurer / Division

Bill Nesbitt was appointed to the UGRWCD Board of Directors in June 2008 representing Division 8, the City of Gunnison. Bill currently serves as the Treasurer of the Board, a position he has held since 2014. His current term expires in 2024. "Serving on the UGRWCD board for the past 13 years has been a challenging and rewarding effort. The board meetings have never been boring because of the myriad of interests dealing with water quality/quantity issues and the diverse make-up of the board members" said Director Bill Nesbitt. During his tenure, he has seen the board change from managing irrigation water needs to leadership in the development of programs which benefit the community and the basin as a whole and becoming a multi-jurisdictional force on state-wide water issues. Through board members' and staff' involvement in Colorado Water Congress, Gunnison Basin Roundtable, and the Colorado River District, the words "transmountain diversion", although still talked about, do not create heated discussions as once was the case. "It has been fulfilling to see the Board's continued interest in community education and outreach. One of the great programs is the annual Grant Program. In 2009, we funded two projects in the District totaling $45,000. At the conclusion of the 2021 grant cycle, the board has now funded 118 projects in the basin to the tune of just over $1.64 million. That is taxpayer money being returned to the taxpayers." "I am really gratified to have been active in the growth of our financial position at the District," said Nesbitt. "I take the Board's fiscal responsibility very seriously and am proud to note that while we have been able to successfully grow our reserves, the District has also increased its support of programming that has enhanced our water supply, improved our water quality or protected our water resources." "In addition to the Grant Program, the District is also providing matching funds and other resources for other private and public entities in our District who are collaborating with us on assessments, engineering and water projects that will help us meet our mission," said Bill. "The District Board deals with such a wide variety of subject matter that affects our leadership and decisions," said Bill, "including everything from water rights to scientific research and data about our watershed, to climate change, to agricultural needs, to land development, to legislation, to mill levies, all of which we must do our best to understand in order to make the best decisions for the District." As Chair of the Outreach/Education and Finance Committees, Bill has been active in promoting the District's mission in the community through the many other civic and governmental organizations he is involved in, as well as to school children in the valley. "For many years now, I have enjoyed delivering copies of the book called Water, by Frank Asch to help educate the first graders in the Gunnison Watershed School District about the water cycle and the importance of conservation," said Bill. After graduating from Western State College (now Western Colorado University) in 1974, Bill started a construction and remodeling business with partner Bill Yanaki and in 1985 became a real estate broker. During his many years in Gunnison, Bill has been active in numerous city, county and state organizations. He served the City of Gunnison for 21 years on the City Council, Planning and Zoning Commission and was Gunnison's Mayor from 1989 to 1991. He has also been active in Region 10 serving as its Chairman in 1989 and spending nearly 20 years as a member of its Revolving Loan Fund. Bill has also served on the Gunnison Valley's Tourism Association and the Gunnison Area Chamber of Commerce. From 1990 to 2000, he was appointed by Governor Romer to the Small Business Council, one of 23 members statewide, lobbying and working with legislators to create legislation to assist small business in Colorado. He presently serves as a Governor appointee to the Gunnison Basin Roundtable. Bill is owner of Nesbitt & Company LLC, a property management and real estate brokerage firm serving the Gunnison Valley. In his rare spare time, Bill enjoys hunting, fishing and gardening and spending time with his family, including his wife, Betsy and his grown children, Billy, Matt and Catherine. "I think that my 50+ year involvement in the valley as a business owner, parent, and elected and appointed official has been helpful tothe UGRWCD. The board make-up has lots of diversity, and depth. The Board as a whole has a continuing commitment to the legacy of ranching and management of the most precious resource in the basin, in my opinion, - WATER!" said Bill.

Job Titles:

• Director / Division

George Sibley was appointed to the UGRWCD Board of Directors in June 2006 representing Division 8, the City of Gunnison, and most recently served as Secretary for the District. After nearly 13 years of service, George submitted his resignation to the UGRWCD earlier this year. George is well-known and well-respected on the Western slope and throughout the state for his commitment to and many years of valuable service on water issues and protecting water users in the Upper Gunnison Basin. Because of his knowledge, time and effort committed to all things water, George affectionately earned the honorary title of Gunnison's own "Water Buffalo," a role he portrayed in many of the annual Sonofagunn productions at the Gunnison Arts Center. "George will be dearly missed within the water community for the knowledge he brings to the table and for spurring much needed conversations around the water resource challenges we face," said UGRWCD General Manager Sonja Chavez. "We wish him the very best!"

Job Titles:

• Director / Division

Job Titles:

• Board Member Profile
• Director / Division

John Perusek was appointed to the UGRWCD Board of Directors in February 2018 representing Division 8, the City of Gunnison. John currently serves as the Secretary of the Board and serves on the Executive, Finance and Projects board committees. His current term expires in 2022. As a local boy, John has been engaged in water issues his whole life. John comes from three generations of area ranchers and learned early on the importance of water for irrigation purposes. As a teenager, John started working in the summers at the Mt. Emmons mine near Crested Butte. John said they "liked his skill set" and he was hired on full time in 1984. He continued to work at Mt. Emmons mine in the wastewater treatment plant for 23 years before being transferred to the Climax molybdenum mine near Leadville, where he served as the Maintenance Planner for industrial wastewater treatment for 10 more years. John also earned his earned his Bachelor of Arts degree while working as a contractor at the Mount Emmons prior to being hired full time by the project. He earned his degree in science with a minor in geology from what was then Western State College in Gunnison. "As a long-term resident of this District, I have seen a gradual shift in our local economy from being agricultural and mining based to more tourism and second-home development based," said John. "I believe agriculture will always be important for our economy, so I would like for our irrigation systems to be optimized so that those with water rights are able to maximize their beneficial use." John credits the District's grant programming and watershed management planning initiatives in helping optimize irrigation systems and improve water quality for the area. "It takes a lot of planning and engineering to ensure that such projects are going to be successful and benefit the water users and this is where the District can provide funding and expertise," said John. He encourages individuals and organizations in the District to reach out to the staff and board when considering a water improvement project. "I think Sonja (Chavez, general manager for the District) is doing an awesome job of partnering with individuals, organizations and other funders to get water optimization projects off the ground," said John. "The Upper Gunnison River Restoration & Irrigation Infrastructure Improvement Project featured in this edition is a perfect example of this." John also says, "We have to take steps to make sure what water we have will last and to ensure that it is of the best quality it can be." When not working on water issues, John enjoys golfing and fly fishing and is a big supporter of Western University's sports program. He particularly likes following the wrestling program and basketball program, as he started wrestling when he was just 8-years-old. John and his wife of 38 years, Colette, are both Western alums so they often enjoy Western sports and activities together. They are also parents to one grown daughter and enjoy spending time with their grandson. John has also been a member of the City of Gunnison's Planning and Zoning Commission since 2017. "With his 33 years of experience in water quality management, John brings significant expertise to the Board which is really beneficial," said UGRWCD General Manager Sonja Chavez. "I really appreciate the knowledge he has of our watershed and the understanding he has of the issues that affect all water users in the District."

Job Titles:

• Board Member Profile
• Director / Division
• Water Program Director at High Country Conservation Advocates

Julie Nania was appointed to the UGRWCD Board of Directors in June 2017 representing Division 5, Crested Butte. Her current term, her second, expires in 2025. Julie serves as the High Country Conversation Advocates water director, a position she has held since 2014 when she relocated to Crested Butte. Prior to her move, Julie spent three years as faculty at the University of Colorado through appointments with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) and Colorado Law's Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy and the Environment. Her work at the University involved collaborating with a range of local communities to address natural resources and climate issues. She graduated from University of Colorado School of Law in 2011 and received her B.A. in International Studies from the University of Washington in 2007. Julie said she was "strongly encouraged" to pursue a seat on the District's Board of Directors by former Board member Steve Glazer. "At first, my interest in serving was piqued by a remarkable representation of folks in water that I really respect and wanted to learn from," said Julie. "Steve Glazer was on the District Board at the time and lectured me on the important role the District has in managing water resources for the water users of this valley…He was a fascinating force of nature!" Sadly, Steve passed away in 2016 after serving 17 years on the District Board. As the water program director at High Country Conservation Advocates, Julie works to protect the state's rivers by identifying and advocating for designation as "outstanding natural resource waters" and recommending rivers for protection through the forest planning process. She also directs stewardship projects to improve watershed health and restore riparian habitats. Finally, she consults with municipalities to advance water efficiency, water quality and conservation efforts. "My goal is to maintain, and if at all possible, improve the health of our ecosystems while continuing to protect our watershed for all water users," said Julie. "I realize this is a lofty goal as with an increase in population, there comes a set of sacrifices for us all to be able to continue to live, play and sustain a livelihood in our valley." Julie noted that the District Board is at a critical crossroads of planning watershed management strategies for a future of continuing drought conditions, more extreme temperatures and weather, earlier snowmelt, dust on snow and increased development in the Gunnison River Basin. In spite of these challenges, Julie said she is excited about the opportunity to work within the legal system and come up with creative solutions to address how to effectively manage the needs of conflicting users competing for the same resource. "I think we will need to grow our lens from just looking at traditional water uses to zoom out to the bigger picture of all ecosystems and how we need to adapt to ensure their survival for the future," said Julie. Julie said she is proud that the District has been proactive, especially in the last few years, about assessing watershed health and how that impacts our water users. "It's not just about who is using what water, it is about how the system works as a whole and how changes in our climate and environment impact the system as a whole." When Julie is not on the river studying its ecosystems, she and her husband, Dan Loftus, who were just married this spring, love to be on any river just relaxing and enjoying the beauty and life force of the water. "Dan is a wonderful husband who is a huge river enthusiast," said Julie. "In fact, one of our first dates was on the Taylor River for a Taylor Tuesday event. We also have two wild rescue dogs who join us on our adventures and love to shred and ski with us on the frozen form of our water."

Job Titles:

• Director
• President / Division

Michelle Pierce was appointed to the UGRWCD Board of Directors in June 2015 representing Division 1, Hinsdale County. Michelle currently serves as the President of the Board. Her term expires in 2023. Michelle describes herself as a "layman" when it comes to water issues even though she was instrumental in helping facilitate one of the most important watershed management projects in the history of Hinsdale County. During her tenure as Town Manager for the Town of Lake City, Colorado from 1985 to 2012, it came to light during the severe drought years of 2002 and 2003 that Lake City could be in serious trouble if drought conditions continued. She and other local officials realized that there was a need for a secure source of augmentation water for Lake City's water wells. "The understanding prior to 2002 was that the Town of Lake City could rely on its long term lease for augmentation water in Blue Mesa Reservoir which could be released, or exchanged, to meet calls by downstream senior water users, rather than having to curtail its own use. But then we were made aware of in instream flow right held by the Colorado Water Conservation Board on the Lake Fork River, upstream of the Blue Mesa Reservoir, that could interrupt this exchange in dry years," said Michelle. It was well known locally that, for many years, the level of water held in Lake San Cristobal in Hinsdale County was artificially raised by up to three feet at certain times each year by strategically placing boulders to increase the water level in the Lake. Michelle and others in the county surmised that perhaps this process could be formalized as a "control structure" and the waters of Lake San Cristobal could serve as an augmentation source for Lake City and Hinsdale County. "During this process, I learned all about augmentation plans, senior and junior water rights and I came to have an increasing awareness of our water supply and the importance of water resources in our state," said Michelle. Hinsdale County approached the UGRWCD about developing a joint water management plan for Lake San Cristobal to address the water augmentation issues for the Lake Fork Valley. As it turned out, in order for this joint contract to be formalized, the voters of Hinsdale County had to approve the measure by a ballot issue. Michelle, in partnership with the Hinsdale County Administrator, then developed a power point presentation to educate voters about the importance of having a secure source of augmentation water, which they presented to various groups in the county over 20 times before the election. The measure ended up passing by just 23 votes. In 2005, Michelle was appointed by the Lake City Board of Trustees to serve as the representative for Lake City on the Gunnison Basin Roundtable, where she served for 10 years. The Gunnison Basin Roundtable was one of nine such groups created earlier that year by the Colorado legislature with the goals of protecting, conserving, and developing water supplies within Colorado, including the Western Slope, for future needs. After Michelle retired in 2012 as the Town Manager of Lake City, she fulfilled her remaining term on the Gunnison Basin Roundtable and was then approached in 2015 to join the UGRWCD. "I am happy to serve the District," said Michelle, who believes she was elected president of the district in part because she is a "neutral party" with experience to help organize, manage and facilitate the Board's involvement in District programming. "I love our Board," said Michelle. "We are a very diverse group with incredibly different backgrounds, yet we listen thoughtfully to each other and treat one another with respect, even when there are disagreements." Michelle feels that one of the District's greatest challenges is the comprehension and execution of the Watershed Management Plan and its importance in guiding the Board and staff into the future. "The Watershed Management Planning Process will take a lot of coordination and leadership from the District," said Michelle. Michelle said the UGRWCD is the "gatekeeper" of all water issues in our district and that in order to protect our water supply and conserve our resources, the District must make our issues understandable to a layperson and all stakeholders in our basin. When not tackling water issues, you'll find Michelle engaged in her passion of genealogy research. "I am an avid researcher," said Michelle, who admits to discovering a few "scoundrels" in her lineage. Michelle enjoys using her genealogy research skills by serving as the registrar for the Gunnison Valley Chapter of the Daughter of the American Revolution. "Over the years, I've had the opportunity to observe Director Pierce in her various leadership roles throughout the Gunnison Basin, and always with admiration," said UGRWCD General Manager Sonja Chavez. "I'd definitely describe her as more than a "layperson" in the water world and so would many others who have had the pleasure of working with her. As a Director and our Chair, she works really hard to understand all water resource issues and perspectives and leads with a strong, fair and balanced approach. Our organization has grown under her leadership and we're very lucky to have her."

Job Titles:

• BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
• Director / Division

Job Titles:

• Board Member Profile Copy Copy
• Director / Division
• Member of the District 's Water Administration Committee
• Member of the Planning Commission for Saguache

Rebie Hazard was appointed to the UGRWCD Board of Directors in June 2003 representing Division 2, Saguache County. Her current term expires in 2023. She is also a Board member of the Saguache County Planning Commission and serves on the Advisory Board for the Saguache County Master Plan. She has also served on the Colorado River Water Conservation District Board of Directors since 2005. Rebie owns and operates the Flying M Ranch on Cochetopa Creek. In addition to being a working cattle ranch, the ranch also accommodates hunting and fishing enthusiasts. It has been in the Hazard family since 1916. Rebie's great great grandfather settled with his family in the area in 1868 and Rebie's grandfather was instrumental in the economic development of Saguache and an active player in the history of the area. Saguache is a Ute word that means "blue earth" or "water at blue earth" which is appropriate considering Saguache County is located in a high alpine valley with the second largest aquifer in the nation. Saguache prides itself on its fresh, clean water that they say rivals any bottled water since no chlorine or fluoride is added to their drinking water supply. Rebie is the longest-serving member on the current UGRWCD Board of Directors. As such, she has seen a lot of changes in her 19 years of service. "I am very proud to see all that the District has accomplished during my tenure," Rebie said. "Huge strides have been made in the Watershed Management Planning process as over 200 potential water improvement projects have been identified and prioritized and dozens of these have already been completed or are underway." Rebie is a member of the District's Water Administration Committee, Grant Committee and the Finance Committee and has also witnessed the growth of resources in the District. "When I was appointed to the Board in 2003, the District had revenues of less than three quarters of a million dollars," said Rebie. "Now, less than 20 years later, our revenues have almost tripled to nearly two and a quarter million dollars. I'm especially pleased how much of this has been leveraged to receive matching funds from other grantors and government agencies for improvement projects in our watershed." As a member of the Planning Commission for Saguache, Rebie understands the challenge of meeting the needs of our growing populations with limited water resources. "For the future, we have to figure out how to accommodate more people living and playing in this basin with less water than we have now," said Rebie. "I believe with the proper amount of conservation and cooperation, we can responsibly use our limited water supply, but the District will have to be the leader in educating our population about changes to our way of life to make this possible." When Rebie has a spare moment from her ranching responsibilities and her service to the various Boards she's involved with, she enjoys collecting antiques and treasures from the Old West, fishing, hunting and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Job Titles:

• Board Member Profile
• Director / Division

Rosemary Carroll was appointed to the UGRWCD Board of Directors in August 2016 representing Division 5, Crested Butte. Her current term expires in June 2023. Rosemary is a Research Professor in the Desert Research Institute's (DRI) Division of Hydrologic Sciences. She has been a member of the DRI community since 2000 when she was hired as a research hydrologist. Rosemary earned her Master's and Ph.D. in hydrology at the University of Nevada, Reno. After completing her Master's degree and joining DRI, Rosemary has primarily worked on surface water and groundwater modeling projects. Dr. Carroll lives in Mt. Crested Butte and conducts research within the Upper Gunnison watershed from Paradise Divide all the way down to Almont. Rosemary grew up in Vermont, and during and after college lived as a self-proclaimed "river rat and ski bum" in California. She met her future husband and Gunnison native, Torrey Carroll, while working as a raft guide in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and moved to Crested Butte in 1990-96. Shortly after moving to the Gunnison Valley, Carroll went back to school at Western Colorado University to build on her undergraduate Physics degree to become a science teacher and found herself taking as many geology classes as she could. When her professor asked Rosemary what she really loved to do, she answered "study water systems" which eventually led her to study hydrology at the University of Nevada-Reno. She moved back to Crested Butte in 2006 to raise her children and be closer to family. She found she was in the right place at the right time as the East River near Crested Butte became the hydrology mecca for scientists from around the country. Specifically, Rosemary's research is part of the Department of Energy funded program through the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) that includes collaboration with over 150 scientists and coordination with multiple federal, state and local stakeholder groups. Rosemary says that the Upper Gunnison watershed serves as a representative watershed for the Upper Colorado River Basin . "The research data and hydrologic modeling that we do in the East River is important to understanding local hydrological dynamics, but it also is broadly representative of many mountain systems in the west and can help the water community understand how water travels down from mountain headwaters to the streams and reservoirs below," said Rosemary. "Hopefully, water managers can utilize this data and modeling to better predict streamflow amount and quantity and make decisions to manage and conserve the water during dry periods." "The Colorado River receives nearly 90 percent of its water from the snow-fed mountains of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah," said Carroll. "And, one-sixth of the world's population receives its water from mountain watersheds, so it is crucial that we better understand mountain systems and work to conserve and protect them." "I really enjoy being on the Board (UGRWCD) and have learned so much from interactions with other Board members," said Rosemary. "We are a very diverse group of individuals with different points of view, yet we are able to have kind, respectful discussions about our different opinions and can reach a consensus on decisions. Ultimately, we all want to see our river system benefit water users of all types and be protected and conserved for future use." Rosemary noted that during her tenure on the Board, she is most proud of the growth she has seen in the District's grant programming. "It gives me great joy to be able to award $300,000 for a wide variety of water projects including everything from improving irrigation, to a native plant xeriscaping to a potable water loss study," said Rosemary. "I love that the grant program can be a benefit to a small rancher, or a nonprofit group or even a municipality." Rosemary also feels that the Watershed Management Program, under the UGRWCD's umbrella, is a "cutting edge" program where the District has been a leader in the state on collaborating with the science community for more effective watershed management. In addition, she feels stakeholder's have provided the scientific community insight into watershed management concerns and offered guidance on what questions scientists should ask.

Job Titles:

• General Manager
• General Manager for the District

Sonja joined the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District as General Manager in December 2019. Sonja received both her bachelor's degree in Environmental Biology and a master's degree in Limnology (the study of freshwater systems) from the University of Colorado. Her areas of expertise are in water quality, water resources management, funding acquisition, environmental and natural resource sciences, and policy and planning. Previously, Sonja managed her own private water consulting firm and served as the Water Resource Specialist for the Colorado River Water Conservation District (Colorado River District). UGRWCD General Manager Sonja Chavez noted that Julie has played such an important role on the District Board in helping the District understand and stay abreast of conservation and water issues in the basin. "Julie has been an invaluable asset to the District," said Sonja. "With her legal background in big river issues and federal reserve water rights and the fact that she has her boots on the ground on a daily basis observing our watershed and ecosystems, she comes to the Board with a wealth of knowledge and experience that is so important and helpful in meeting the District's mission." UGRWCD General Manager Sonja Chavez said she is very grateful for Rebie's many years of service to the District. "Rebie has such a great understanding of the needs of the rural agricultural water users since she manages a working ranch," said Sonja. "This coupled with the fact that she has such a long history with the Upper Gunnison District, the Colorado River District and with Saguache County is such an asset to our Board and the decisions we make. We are so appreciative of her knowledge and experience." said Rosemary has been such a huge asset to the District Board, especially when it comes to making that connection between science and the development of water management tools. "The information Rosemary brings to each Board meeting about water resource research going on in our basin and throughout the west has been invaluable to the District," said Sonja. "Not only has she been a huge help in explaining and simplifying data, but she has also provides a tremendous connection between the District and the scientific community. It is truly rare and we are so fortunate to have a Board member with such extensive knowledge and background in helping us meet the District's mission." In her limited free time, Rosemary cherishes being outdoors on a long run through the wilderness, or hiking up a peak or skiing down a slope. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and also her two sons when they are home from college. Rosemary said, "I feel so blessed to live in this paradise and be able to work through my career and the District Board to preserve it!"

Job Titles:

• Board Member Profile
• Executive Director of the Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy
• Vice President / Division

Stacy McPhail was appointed to the UGRWCD Board of Directors in June 2018 representing the Ohio Creek sub-basin (Division 6). Stacy currently serves as the Vice President of the Board. Her term expires in 2022. Stacy hails from Texas originally, so when she moved to the Gunnison Valley with her husband, Eric, and children in 2006, she saw the contrast when it comes to the importance that water plays in the area. "In Texas, it was not uncommon to get 40 inches of rain in an average year and there was always a concern for flooding," said Stacy. "Here at the headwaters, I have learned how dependent we are on our rivers and streams to meet our water needs and I want to be a good steward of for all our water interests." In particular, Stacy felt she could serve as a voice for agricultural water users in the District, which compelled her to apply for the board vacancy in 2018. "One of the messages I hope to convey as a Board member is the importance of water storage in times of drought and population growth," Stacy said. "It is not just about the storage our reservoirs provide, but also the important role that agricultural irrigation ditches and stream diversions play in slowly releasing that water supply back to the stream system throughout the water year for the benefit of the fishery, drinking water supplies, wildlife habitat, recreation, etc." Stacy explained that one of the big challenges that the District faces is the concept of "agricultural demand management," which involves a water right holder voluntarily and temporarily electing to limit, reduce or completely forego irrigation while being compensated in order to prevent involuntary curtailment. "As a District Board member, I see one of my main roles as actively addressing issues like demand management or any future water policies that might affect or limit the use or function of water in the District. With our location here at the headwaters, we have to pay attention to the big picture as there are many downstream water users that are affected by policies within the District and the entire State." Stacy also serves as the executive director of the Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy (GRCL). Through her work with both the GRCL and the District, she uses her background in production agriculture to collaborate with ranchers and landowners on conservation measures, and "drought" is always a topic of concern. In agriculture, Stacy says, "You plan for a normal (water) year, but we have yet to have one!" She feels that dry conditions in the District are likely to be a persistent problem going forward, but believes we have the ability through research and development to adapt to the "new normal" conditions. Her bigger concern is population growth we are seeing across the state and whether we can adapt quickly enough to enable our water resources to meet growing water needs. "The scarcity of water resources in the District and in our State will be an ongoing issue." Stacy said she is proud of the strides the District has made in the watershed management planning process and feels the measures the District has taken directly address scarcity of water resources. When not working for the GRCL or District, you'll find Stacy "mothering" two teenage boys and a teenage goddaughter, along with an array of horses, goats and chickens. Stacy also enjoys all things outdoors, including hiking, skiing and biking. "Director McPhail is an invaluable asset to our organization for many reasons, but most importantly because of her strong basin-wide water resource knowledge and work with the agricultural community. In addition, her leadership and engagement with and support of the entire Watershed Management Planning Team has been a huge lift and we're so appreciative."

Job Titles:

• Administrative Assistant / Communications Support Specialist

Sue joined the staff in September 2020 as the Administrative Assistant and has since taken on additional duties of communications and outreach for the District. She serves as the front-line contact with the public and assists with Board meeting preparation tasks and office administration. Sue has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has spent 30 plus years in a variety of administrative and managerial roles, primarily for nonprofit organizations.