RWR traders John Kim and Hugh Bernardi have additionally given tens of hundreds of {dollars} to different candidates’ elections. Kim gave $5,000 and Bernardi $11,000 to Robert Kennah, who received a four-year director-at-large time period in Could. Bernardi gave $5,000 and Kim $11,000 to Kory Nelson, who misplaced to incumbent board President Merlin Klotz. Nelson is contesting the ends in court docket.
The double-digit contributions in a water district election raised purple flags for Klotz, a former Douglas County clerk and recorder.
“They’re within the enterprise of skinning {dollars} off of buying and selling water,” Klotz mentioned, who emphasised the vulnerability of the district’s property on this situation, valued at over one billion {dollars}. “We’re within the enterprise of supplying the neighborhood—our motives are totally different than their motives.”
Usually, such contests draw scant consideration and little cash. Solely a fraction of the 37,683 ballots delivered to district prospects had been returned—Kennah received with 1,730 votes and Klotz with 1,520, beating Nelson by 26 votes, hand-written licensed outcomes present.
In an interview, Kim mentioned he gave the cash to Nelson and Kennah’s campaigns as a result of he’s “a long-time resident right here in Douglas County, and I wished to take part within the political course of on a difficulty I feel is necessary for Douglas County.”
“They’re within the enterprise of skinning {dollars} off of buying and selling water. We’re within the enterprise of supplying the neighborhood—our motives are totally different than their motives.”
The business actual property investor added that he thinks water districts have to look intently at alternatives to develop new water provides.
“I feel Douglas County is a rising neighborhood and we’d like to ensure now we have the suitable water assets,” mentioned Kim, who received a seat on the Roxborough Water & Sanitation District in 2022 and is now its treasurer. That district held $116 million in property on the finish of the 2022 fiscal yr.
Bernardi, Kennah, Sales space, and Nelson didn’t return requests for remark.
Kennah and Nelson agreed throughout an April radio interview, nevertheless, they wish to assist the Parker district “safe good high quality sources to fill their reservoir,” in a nod towards RWR’s challenge.
“We have to have a look at the long run and a dedication to work with the opposite areas in securing these major use rights,” mentioned Nelson. “The entire difficulty concerning the San Luis Valley and speaking about that water supply—we have to take an actual exhausting have a look at that.”
A Wrenching Alternative, A Marketing campaign Supervisor
The stakes are rising for municipalities within the West which might be looking out to buttress water provides from dwindling aquifers as scarce renewable floor water, escalating development, and local weather change speed up issues.
Water sprays from a pivot sprinkler onto an alfalfa discipline that’s a part of Gene Manuello’s household’s cow and calf operation close to Sterling, Colorado. (Picture credit score: Jennifer Oldham)
Parker’s water district is a case research within the wrenching selections city and rural residents shall be compelled to make round methods to allocate shrinking water provides. A state plan launched this yr provided this dire forecast for Colorado’s water future: “Municipal, industrial, and agricultural gaps are projected to happen in all eventualities.”
Districts should resolve whether or not to ink offers with traders like RWR, which view brokering water as a money-making alternative.
Eschewing such offers is a high precedence of water managers like Joe Frank. White pelicans floated close by as Frank stood on the banks of the South Platte River lately, remembering the precise time and date gauges confirmed that the waterway had greater than sufficient for everybody: 5 a.m. on Could 12.
