ALAMOSA — The Rio Grande Basin Roundtable put a wrap on 2019 at their Tuesday meeting at Cavillo’s Restaurant.

Once the proceedings were underway, Wayne Schwab of the Trinchera Irrigation Company recognized Emma Reesor, Vice-Chair of the Roundtable, for being named “Basin Hero” for the Rio Grande Basin by the Colorado Water Conservation Board.

Later, Bethany Howell of the Rio Grande Watershed Conservation and Education Initiative gave a funding request preview to add a staff position to the Public Education and Public Outreach (PEPO) program in the Basin. Howell pointed out that PEPO is becoming increasingly important because there is a growing lack of local and statewide water knowledge and a lack of communication between various entities that have the potential to collaborate. Also, she mentioned that PEPO could promote the work in the Basin along with highlighting “cutting edge” projects such as the new Doppler Radar System. Howell’s final presentation and the request will come at the January meeting.

Following Howell’s remarks, Virginia Christensen of the Terrace Irrigation Company also gave a funding preview and request. The Terrace Irrigation Company is seeking to replace diversions that makeup its canal system in 2020. Upon approval, the project anticipated to improve the administration of the system’s water along with numerous other benefits.

Before the group adjourned for lunch, Chair Nathan Coombs led a time of prayer and remembrance of those that the water community lost in 2019, such as Nancy Butler of the Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust and Joe Busto of the Colorado Water Conservation Board.

While the business of 2019 is coming to a close, there will be only a brief reprieve as January 2020 already looks to be quite busy.