NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
ROAD MAP TO FUTURE
SPORTS
MEET THE TRUSTEES
Master Plan for the Town of Hotchkiss nears completion, B1
Cedaredge candidates step up to serve the community, C1
DELTA COUNTY
DEFENDING CHAMPS Cedaredge boys’ track team continues winning ways, B5
MARCH 28, 2018 VOL. 135, NO. 13
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INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Farmers, ranchers brace for drought BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Western Colorado is facing an “epic” low water year, due to a relatively warm, dry winter. Snowpack in the Upper Gunnison Basin is at 63 percent of average. Grand Mesa is at less than 50 percent, with Surface Creek forecast with one of the lowest runoffs in the state. At a presentation hosted by the Delta Conservation District, Colorado Division 4 water engineer Bob Hurford displayed a graph from the U.S. Drought Monitor that shows extreme drought conditions in southwest Colorado — conditions that are expected to persist in much of Delta County. Speaking to a crowd largely made up of agricultural producers, he referred to 2002 as a “benchmark bad year, and we’re not even at 2002 right now. Prospects aren’t looking so good.” The weather forecast calls for above average temperatures and lower than average precipitation over the next 30 days, which is typically the wettest time of the year. Fortunately, carryover storage is looking good. Above average reservoir storage will help offset low moisture for the 2018 growing season, but next year might look completely different if the current drought cycle continues. With runoff in question, the discussion turned to the types of water rights outlined in the state constitution. Domestic has priority over all other uses, followed by agriculture and then industrial. Those with senior water rights can place a “call” for water with the Division of Water Resources. Until the senior water rights are satisfied, supply is curtailed to those with junior water rights. The call for water is con-
ditional, Hurford explained. The senior water right holder must put agricultural water to a beneficial use. It cannot be wasted; the user must have an accepted headgate and an accurate measuring device. “The North Fork is on call even in a good year,” Hurford explained. “There’s just not enough water to supply everybody. Every drop of water in the North Fork is spoken for.” He discussed a number of strategies for water short years, including administrative exchanges, the loan of irrigation water rights, the lease of storage water, and efficiency improvements for on and off field delivery systems. “This is where the Delta Conservation District really shines,” he said. John Miller, an irrigation water management specialist with the Delta Conservation District, recommended all producers develop a drought management plan. The first step is looking at all available data specific to the grower’s location. “Right now we’re in an ah-ha moment, where we’re becoming increasingly aware of a potentially rough year,” he said. “This is the time to prepare.” For a one-year dry spell, he said managing water between existing fields is better than planting drought-resistant varieties. New plantings, which require more water, should be avoided. Drought-tolerant crops should be reserved for longer dry spells, because they generally have lower yields. Growers could also look at shorter season crops like sweet corn, pinto beans and sunflowers. “You also need to look at irrigation system efficiency,” he said. “Is the irrigation water getting to a plant or are you losing it?” Replacing open ditches with
Nelson, Lane advance to primary BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Presentation of the U.S. flag by a JROTC color guard from Delta High School and the singing of “God Bless America” by DHS junior Shanaya Deuschle set the tone for the Delta County Republican Assembly. Delegates convened at the Delta Center for Performing Arts Saturday morning. Two Republicans have declared their candidacy for District 1 county commissioner and both received enough support to advance to the primary election in June. With 52 percent of the votes, Teresa Nelson will be listed first on the ballot. Mike Lane received 48 percent of the delegate votes. County chairman Roger
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Back Page ................... D6 Business ........................ A8 Church .........................C5-6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ..................... A6 School Zone .................. A5 Service Directory ........ D5 Sports ..........................B5-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-2 TV Listings ..................C3-4
Bentley said the assembly went very smoothly with excellent participation from candidates as well as new and existing precinct committee persons. “I would say everybody came out of the assembly a winner,” Bentley said. That afternoon, Republicans from Mesa and Delta counties met at the Delta Performing Arts Center to designate candidates for the office of state representative for Colorado House District 54. Delta County resident Matt Soper is currently unopposed in the GOP primary. Also at the GOP State House 54 Assembly, Rep. Yeulin Willett was recognized for his service to western Colorado.
piping or installing concrete linings can help cut down on loss. With gated pipe, just half the water is getting to a plant. Efficiency improves with rolling and center pivot irrigation systems, and hits 95 percent
with drip irrigation and micro spray. But as efficiency goes up, so does the price, Miller said. That’s where cost-sharing programs can help with installation. After discussing several
other options for conserving irrigation water, he said if the weather outlook hasn’t improved by midseason, it might be time for hard choices. “You might be looking at DROUGHT TO A3
Courtesy U.S. Drought Monitor
The vivid red color indicates that as of March 22, much of Delta County was experiencing extreme drought. No relief is in the 30-day weather forecast, which calls for higher than average temperatures and lower than average precipitation. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, potential impacts of extreme drought include major crop/pasture losses and widespread water shortages or restrictions.
Jury rejects insanity claim in murder of Melinda Yager BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
The 12 jurors and two alternates who listened to weeks of testimony in the trial of Nathan Yager came together on March 20 to deliver a verdict of guilty. Yager had pleaded not guilty to second degree murder by reason of insanity. There was never any question that Nathan Yager brutally slashed the throat of his estranged wife, Melinda, in January 2011. The defense conceded that point early in the trial, but attempted to prove Yager was not sane when he committed the crime. Their expert, Dr. Karen Fukutaki, a psychiatrist from the Front Range, testified Yager was in a disassociative state when he committed murder, and was therefore not legally responsible for the act. The district attorney’s office countered with an expert who testified that Yager was not severely mentally diseased, that it was “not even a close call.” Dick Nunamaker, a Delta resident who served as jury foreman, explained the thought process behind the guilty verdict after the jury had been released by Judge Steven Schultz last Tuesday afternoon. “I could sum up the comments of many jurors by say-
Tuesday is Election Day Polling centers at the Delta County Courthouse in Delta and at the North Fork Annex, 196 W. Hotchkiss Avenue, Hotchkiss, will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day April 3. In addition, 24-hour drop boxes are available at both locations, as well as the Cedaredge Library at SW 6th Avenue in Cedaredge. In Delta only, the elections office at the courthouse will be open Saturday, March 31, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Voters in every municipality in the county — with the exception of Cedaredge — should have received a ballot. To verify your status, visit www.govotecolorado.com.
ing, ‘Although both psychiatrists who testified were highly credible, the overall testimony of Dr. Wortzel appeared to be more compelling with respect to this case as it applies to sanity vs. insanity.’ ” Nunamaker said he listened not only to Dr. Wortzel’s words, but also paid close attention to his body language. “Dr. Wortzel, the courtappointed psychiatrist, seemed very confident in his diagnosis,” Nunamaker said. “He didn’t seem to have any doubts whatsoever and that’s kind of important.” No one questioned Dr. Fukutaki’s credentials, or her sincerity, Nunamaker said, but she changed her diagnosis after more information came to light. That raised questions for jurors. Nunamaker said she also seemed to be “parroting” comments made by defense attorneys during opening statements, which made him wonder if Fukutaki had been coached. During deliberations, Nunamaker said it took some time for a couple of jurors to wrap their heads around “reasonable doubt.” There was also a lot of discussion about the legal definition of insanity, “because that’s what the whole case hinged on. “How could someone be
sane and commit a crime like that?” Nunamaker wondered. “But there’s a very specific legal definition for insanity and that’s all you have to go by.” The concept that Yager could be sane before the murder, insane when he produced a knife and cut Melinda’s throat, then sane again is still hard to understand, Nunamaker said. Both the prosecution and defense did a good job, but Nunamaker said the defense didn’t have much to work with, other than the psychiatric testimony, and in the end that failed to impress the jurors. Nunamaker added that he felt every juror gave a hundred percent. They took the trial very seriously; there were no comments about getting it over with. “It’s amazing how important it is to have a diverse group of people like that. We all watched and heard the same things, but everybody comes out with a little different perception of events. It’s amazingly important.” Although the experience was extremely stressful, Nunamaker said jurors felt good about the verdict. “We all came out of there feeling like justice had been served. No one was on the fence; there were no second thoughts.”
GMUG revision moves to next phase
The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests are moving into a new phase of plan development, starting with a formal scoping period. This 30-day comment period, beginning March 30, will seek public input on the first elements of the revised Forest Plan, including: key needs for change; vision and distinctive role and contribution of the GMUG; and proposed management area framework. Together, these sections provide a foundation for building a proposed plan that can provide for ecological sustainability, contribute to the area’s social and economic stability, and integrate resource management for multiple uses and ecosystem services. “Now that we’re shifting from assessment to planning, we want to make sure we’re focusing on the key issues and to start laying the groundwork for the revised Forest Plan,” said Samantha Staley, GMUG forest planner. The GMUG will be hosting two scoping webinars on Monday, April 2, 4 to 5:30 p.m. and Friday, April 6, 9 to 10:30 a.m. See www.usfs.adobeconnect.com/gmug-500/; call 1-888-844-9904, participant code 8454465# for audio.