Randy & Shawn Mccormick
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June 22, 2011 To: Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael Connor Cc: Colorado River Basin Governors and Members of Congress in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming and California The Colorado River fuels our economy in the seven Basin states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Thirty million people, from Denver to Los Angeles, drink its water. It enriches 3 million acres of farmland. And the economic value of the River goes far beyond the consumption of its water. It supports a way of life that keeps people coming out West. Millions of tourists flock to the banks of the River and its tributaries each year for boating, fishing, birding, hunting and hiking, which adds up to a multi-billion dollar recreation economy. As business owners and leaders in the Colorado River Basin, we urge you to keep water flowing in the River so the revenue it supports keeps flowing into our local economies. According to the Bureau of Reclamation, demand for the River’s water now exceeds its supply. We are, therefore, dipping into our water storage reserves throughout the Basin to keep up with demand, leaving our reservoirs half empty. While some of the Basin has seen plenty of snow and runoff in 2011, these supply and demand trends are projected to keep heading in a troubling direction overall. As business people, we know how to keep an eye on the bottom line – this balance sheet is unsustainable. Until 1998, the River stretched all the way from its source in the Colorado Rockies to Mexico’s Sea of Cortez. Now, it dries up in the Sonoran Desert miles before it reaches the sea. If something doesn’t change, this trend will continue to move upstream to our communities and businesses. We must apply innovation and collaboration to a challenge that will only become more acute as population growth increases demand and a changing climate limits the supply of water in the River and its tributaries. We now have an opportunity to begin to deal responsibly with the challenge before us. The Bureau of Reclamation, in coordination with representatives from the seven Basin states, is conducting a study on the future of the River and will be proposing solutions to address increasing strain upon the River’s water supply. We ask that the study’s participants take a sober accounting of the River’s fate and propose a path forward that does not simply continue to facilitate the consumption of the River’s water, but also the health and sustainability of the River itself. Our economic future is tied to a Colorado River that flows strong and beckons people to our communities. Let’s seize this opportunity to keep this lifeline in the West flowing for generations to come. Sincerely, Randy & Shawn McCormick Jeff Thorsett Owners Owner Lake Mohave Scuba Inc. Flagstaff Brewing Company Bullhead City, AZ Flagstaff, AZ Chris Elder Lisa Lamberson CEO Owner River City Realty Mountain Sports Bullhead City, AZ Flagstaff, AZ Bryan Corbins John Vail Owner Owner Wet-N-Wild Jet Ski Rentals & Offroad Outdoors Unlimited Tours Flagstaff, AZ Bullhead City, AZ Rachel Bliss Alexandra Thevinen and Derik Spice Owner Owner and River Guide Animas Beads Arizona Raft Adventures Animas Import Collection Flagstaff, AZ Animas Trading Company Flagstaff, AZ David Barnett Manager Robert Pitagora Aspen Sports President Rapid Creek Laurie Lee Staveley Flagstaff, AZ Owner Canyon Explorations Susan Walter Flagstaff, AZ Manager Stage Left Café John Vail Flagstaff, AZ Owner Canyon Outfitters Flagstaff, AZ Gordon Watkins Steve McCann Owner Digital Marketing Coordinator The Inn at 410 B&B Teva Flagstaff, AZ Goleta, CA Phyliss Hogan Hilde Schweitzer Winter Sun Trading Company Owner Flagstaff, AZ The Schweitzer Group Lotus, CA Maggie Sacher Owner David Bhakta Lees Ferry Lodge Manager Marble Canyon, AZ Imperial 400 Motel Needles, CA Lindsay Winter Marketing Director Hans Cole Grand Canyon Whitewater, LLC. Environmental Grants Manager Page, AZ Patagonia Ventura, CA Don Farmer Owner Nick Wigston DCP Coatings LLC President Scottsdale, AZ Whitewater Tube Co. Boulder, CO John Yerger Owner Earl Richmond Adventure Birding Company Owner Tucson, AZ Colorado Kayak Supply Buena Vista, CO John Annerino Author Photographer Lisa Ruoff John Annerino Owner Tucson, AZ Eco-Goddess Café Carbondale, CO George Wendt President Jenny Hamilton O.A.R.S. Owner Angels Camp, CA Ragged Mountain Sports Carbondale, CO Bryan Cole Manager of Free Sport Culture and David Leinweber Advocacy President Clif Bar Angler's Covey Emeryville, CA Colorado Springs, CO Councilman John Wirsing Cindy Dahlberg Chamber member and Councilman Manager Crested Butte, CO Hassle Free Sports Durango, CO Peter Maxwell Owner Matt McFee Maxwell's Steakhouse Owner Crested Butte, CO Hermosa Tours Durango, CO Andrew Petersen Owner Kirk Komich The Colorado Angler Owner Dillon, CO Leland House & Rochester Hotel Durango, CO Taz Vass Owner Thomas Klema Dolores Food Market Owner Dolores, CO Peregrine River Outfitters Durango, CO Karol Kleidon Manager Kent Ford Flying Pig Emporium President Dolores, CO Performance Video Durango, CO Karen Ragland Owner Keith Roush Sisters in Stitches Owner Dolores, CO Pine Needle Mountaineering Durango, CO Terri Winbourn Owner Rory James Terri's Hair and Nail Owner Dolores, CO Southwest Whitewater Durango, CO Ginger Black Owner Walker Thompon The Ginger Inn Giftshop Owner Dolores, CO The Rock Lounge/SW Adventure Guides Durango, CO Tony Miely Owner Miles Comeau 4 Corners Riversports Owner Durango, CO Alpine River Outfitters Edwards, CO Andy Abner Partner 4 Corners Whitewater Durango, CO Donna Fletcher Jason Higins Owner Owner Mountain Cabin Coffee House Haute Plate Bistro Empire, CO Glenwood Springs, CO David Costlow Steve DiCampo President Manager Triptiva Corporation Roaring Fork Anglers Fort Collins, CO Glenwood Springs, CO Debbie Muenster Carl Moak President Owner Icebox Mountain Sports Summit Canyon Mountaineering Fraser, CO Glenwood Springs, CO Jeff Ehlert Marilou and Tim Randall Owner Owners Winter Park Flyfisher Never Summer Mtn. Products Fraser, CO Grand Lake, CO Zeke Hersh Jeff Gasner Owner Owner Blue River Anglers Rocky Mountain Outfitters Frisco, CO Grand Lake, CO Sarah Chevalier Roanne Rouck General Manager Owner Hotel Frisco Acli-Mate Hydration Drink Frisco, CO Gunnison, CO Christian Campton Carolyn Riggs Owner Owner KODI Rafting Brick Cellar Wine Bar & Restaurant Frisco, CO Gunnison, CO Paul Connelly Gunnison Farmers Market Owner Board of Directors The Mountains USA Gunnison, CO Frisco, CO Roanne Rouck Geoffrey Olson Owner Owner Main Street Clinic Blue Sky Adventures Gunnison, CO Glenwood Springs, CO Anthony Poponi Owner Poponi Contracting LLC Gunnison, CO Matt Sleightholm Dana Orzel Owner Owner Sleightholm Workshop Design + Build Great Solar Works Gunnison, CO Ridgway, CO Julie Wills Tim Patterson Owner Owner Thread Studio Design RIGS Flyshop Gunnison, CO Ridgway, CO Nathan Fey James Buckler Colorado River Program Director Owner American Whitewater Cutthroat Anglers, LLC Longmont, CO Silverthorne, CO Alex Rachowicz Tim Hannon Owner Owner Minturn Anglers Deli on the Blue Minturn, CO Silverthorne, CO Jim Bartschi John Land Le Coq President Founder Scott Fly Rod Company Fishpond LLC Montrose, CO Silverthorne, CO Bill Dvorak Tim Hannon President Owner Dvorak Expeditions Locals Liquors Nathrop, CO Peak Provisions Silverthorne, CO Karen Avery Owner Louisa Morrissey Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Springs Owner Ouray, CO Red Buffalo Coffee Silverthorne, CO Bill Leo President Bill Gamber Ouray Mountain Sports Owner Ouray, CO Honey Stinger EN-R-G Foods, LLC Big Agnes, Inc Joel Rosenstrauch BAP! Manager Steamboat Springs, CO Rapid Creek Cycles Palisade, CO John Duty Owner Bucking Rainbow Steamboat Springs, CO John Kole Katherine Mowrey Owner Owner One Stop Ski Shop LTD Epic Mountain Sports Steamboat Springs, CO Winter Park, CO Scott Harkins Hank Kirwan President Owner San Miguel Mtn. and River Products, Inc. Mo'Henry's Trout Shop Steamboat Springs, CO Winter Park, CO Chip Sespersea Bart Laemmel Manager Owner Steamboat Meat and Seafood B2 Building Science Steamboat Springs, CO Crested Butte, CO Brett Lee Jenn Orgolini Owner Director of Sustainability and Strategic Straightline Outdoor Sports Development Steamboat Springs, CO New Belgium Brewing Fort Collins, CO Bob Gleason Owner Julia Thackberry Further Adventures/Boot Doctors Owner Telluride, CO Corner Cupboard Gunnison, CO Drew Thompson Manager Mark Williams Paragon Outdoors Owner Telluride, CO Dan's Fly Shop Gunnison, CO San Miguel County Commission Telluride, CO Patrick and Judith Owners John Shuler Farrell's Restaurant Manager Gunnison, CO Telluride Outside Telluride, CO Kerry and Danny Lefebvre Owners Kyle DuFresne Marios Pizza and Pasta Manager Gunnison, CO Gore Creek Fly Fisherman Vail, CO Maya Silver Individual Jery Ulrich Maya Silver- Office of Resource Efficiency Manager Gunnison, CO Adventures in Whitewater Winter Park, CO Abby Harris Gabe Schroder Owner Ski and Outdoor Promotions Manager Rose Petal SMITH Optics Gunnison, CO Ketchum, ID Delaney Keating William Berry Owner Owner/President Roshambo TOLI Services, Inc. Gunnison, CO Shawnee, KS Matt Brown Marc Tohir Owner Director Scenic River Tours Fluid Kayaks North America Gunnison, CO Hanover, MD Nancy Lapello Marc Tohir Owner President The Bean Coffeehouse and Eatery Priority Worldwide Services Gunnison, CO Hanover, MD Bill and Susan O'Rourke Sarah Baden Owners River guide Tomichi Cycles Grand Canyon Youth Gunnison, CO Big Sky, MT Lisa VanderGraff