San Juan Water Conservancy District
46 Eaton Drive. Suite #5
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
(970) 264-2171
Background
The San Juan Water Conservancy District (“District”) was formed under C.R.S. §37-45-101 et seq. on or about October 20, 1987 when the electors under the jurisdiction of the District passed a petition to form the District. The District Court in and for Archuleta County, Colorado approved the results of the election by order and that order was recorded at Reception #0151175 on October 26, 1987.
The District operates with a .316 mill levy property assessment. The bylaws for the organization provide for 3-9 seats on the Board of Directors, which are appointed by the District Court Judge for Archuleta County, CO and serve for four-year terms. The seats on the Board are staggered to assure there is always institutional knowledge of the organization.
At the time the District was formed, Southwestern Water Conservation District deeded certain conditional water rights it held into the name of the District. The District has the statutory authority to appropriate water rights, to have and exercise the power of eminent domain and dominant eminent domain, to sponsor water resources projects, to construct water development projects, to develop and operate augmentation plans and to appropriate recreational in-channel diversion water rights, among other powers. The primary function is to address future water supply needs.
Mission
The mission of the San Juan Water Conservancy District is to conserve, develop, utilize, and plan storage for current and future water needs, and that the water resources of the San Juan River and its tributaries, and the property and residents within the District will be benefited by the activities of the District.
Management
The SJWCD is governed by a 3-9 member Board of Directors who serve four-year terms. The Board adopts an annual budget based upon a mill levy. The present Directors, their positions on the Board, and current terms of office are as follows:
- Allan Pfister, Chair
- Susan Nossaman, Vice Chair
- John Porco, Secretary
- Bill Hudson, Treasurer
- Doug Secrist
- Joe Tedder
- Merlin Wheeler
The District’s meetings are posted according to law on our website: sjwcd.org. The District meets at its offices located at 46 Eaton Drive, Suite #5; Pagosa Springs, CO 81147.