The Pine River Irrigation District (District) and the Bureau of Reclamation will initiate contract negotiations for the use of Pine River Project Water from Vallecito Reservoir for municipal, industrial, and miscellaneous purposes. The first negotiation meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 14, 2004 at 7:00 P.M. at the Lion's Club at 311 Church Street in Bayfield, Colorado.

The contract will establish the terms and conditions for the proposed conversion of Pine River Project Water from irrigation to miscellaneous purposes and uses other than irrigation.

All negotiations are open to the public as observers, and the public will have the opportunity to ask questions and offer comments pertaining to the contract at the end of the negotiation session. The proposed contract and other pertinent documents will be available at the negotiation meeting. These documents can also be obtained at the following website: www.usbr.gov/uc/wcao, or by contacting Dick Gjere of the Bureau of Reclamation, 835 East Second Avenue, Suite 300, Durango, Colorado, 81301, telephone (970) 385-6531 or e-mail at dgjere@uc.usbr.gov.