[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16938-16939]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              PAYING TRIBUTE TO GUNNISON WATER COMMISSION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 20, 2004

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Gunnison Water 
Commission in Gunnison, Colorado. The water commissioners aid citizens 
and friends to efficiently and effectively use the precious resource of 
water. I am honored to recognize their contributions to their community 
before this body of Congress and this nation today.

[[Page 16939]]

  This year the Gunnison Water Commission will celebrate one hundred 
and twenty-five years of serving the Western slope of Colorado. The 
water commissioners bring both a wealth of knowledge and experience to 
their field and a true sense of dedication to helping the public 
understand how the water system works throughout the state.
  The water commissioners work partial year contracts mostly in the 
summer when water is in high use for irrigation and the snow has 
melted. They collect data on how much water flows through streams or 
ditches; inspect headgates, flumes and springs, and during particularly 
dry times, undertake the difficult task of enforcing water rights. 
These hard working commissioners have improved their efficiency field 
by adding global positioning system technology and many other modern 
capabilities to facilitate better tracking and locating procedures for 
water in their districts.
  Mr. Speaker, the Gunnison water commissioners work hard and take 
pride in the stewardship of a precious resource, and I am confident 
that the Gunnison community is grateful for their dedication. It is a 
privilege to bring the contributions of these fine water commissioners 
to light before this body of Congress. I thank them for their service 
and I wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

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