L   E   T   T   E   R   S

THE ART OF COOPERATION 
 
We share the following exchanges between C.SU. and us... as a good example of how manners and respect of ones property rights can, and should, prevail. 
Chuck & Roni
 

Good Morning Frank,
 
Your letter of explanation regards desire to research the Platte River is appreciated  Thank you.

Roni and I leave for WY (again) today- through Sunday (Wyoming Stockgrowers convention). We'll be home all of next week.  So whenever it's convenient for you,  call us  (970)-284-6874,  and let's set a time for you to come out first.  I can show you where the bridges and roads are, and go over our Property Admittance Agreement.

If you are looking for a place to have lunch, we have a large farm shop (Our "Party Suite.") which has enough room - tables and chairs - to accommodate a hundred people.  Your group could either bring their own sack lunches, or  you could contact Kyle Miller - who owns Valley Packing & Catering (970)-284-5589 - a quarter mile away.
Physical address:  18269 W.C.R. 394 . Turn North at the only stop light in LaSalle... Road curves past a church, school, Valley Packing etc. until it comes to a T. Our farm is right there.

Look forward to meeting you.  I'm sure we can work things out so that your group will receive my permission to come study and enjoy The Sylvester Farm, TM 1869.
 
Sincerely,
Chuck

 
Charles,
Thank you very much for your reply to Fred's email regarding possible access to the South Platte River on your property.  Dr. Stan Schumm and I are planning to lead a class of about 20 adults to study river processes on July 26th.  We would be on the river at two different locations for about 3 hours (maximum) at each location  This is strictly an educational trip and does not involve any research or other activities.  Also about 3 of us would need access for part of a day in late June or early July to check out the site and determine a plan of activity for the actual day of the field trip.  We are primarily interested in examining river flow and the formation of various ripples and bed forms in the channels  We would also like to dig some small trenches in a river bar or two to examine the internal bedding and other features of the river bars.  We would, of course, fill in any small trenches that we dig.  We understand your concerns regarding access and liability to your property and we have no problem with signing a property admittance agreement.  We will take nothing from the river and leave nothing that we bring with us behind when finished with our educational effort.  As far as I am concerned this is a one time field trip.

We currently have permission to examine a stretch of the river in the vicinity of Orchard/Goodrich, but need one additional site upstream of there, close to Greeley.  I am not sure where your property is located and depending on location it may or may not fit with our educational needs.  If this is an activity that you can support with access to your property I would greatly appreciate knowing the location and nearest road and bridge when you have time after you return from Wyoming in early June

Thank you very much for our kind consideration of our request.

Best regards,
Frank
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Frank G. Ethridge
Emeritus Professor of Geology
Department of Geosciences
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 8053-1482
Phone (970) 491-6195
Fax (970) 491-6307
E-mail:  fredpet@cnr.colostat.edu
Web Address: www.cnr.colstate.edu/geo/
 

 
Good Morning Fred,
 
Yesterday, a copy was also sent to Frank Ethridge.

Much appreciated, thank you.

Filling in for Chuck (Who won't be back until this weekend.),
Roni

 
 
Chuck,
The person that should be reviewing the documents and in communication with you is Frank Ethridge at:   fredpet@warnercnr.colostate.edu

When people, or even professors, ask me for contacts etc.  I always will leave it up to the contact to make the connection.  I don't give peoples names or e-mail addresses to anyone with out their permission.  So, if you are interested in helping out Frank please e-mail him directly.  You can copy me to keep me up to date.

Thanks,
Fred Petersen
Weld County Extension Director
Colorado State University
970.3046535 ext 2073
Cell: 970-397-1567
fpetersen@coweld.co.us
 
 

Hello Fred,
 
Got your email.

I am always for helping C.S.U., and science. 

With nearly 70 years of experiences growing up and still living on the bank of the South Platte River
I have some maps, and a copy of the original engineers report - done on the river from the early 1940's.
In these 70 years, I've seen the river change course drastically, and have maps and pictures to show how it once was.
Before giving permission for access to our property, I have some questions regarding liability and possible future repercussions.

Please review the two forms that are on  www.GoodNeighborLawcom   1) Property Admittance Agreement. 2) Public Servants Questionnaire.

In my opinion, I have and continue to operate properly as a private land owner living along the river.  However, in this day and age, too many scientists are on the side of enviros who throw science out the window and delve into socialistic restructuring of whole communities. As non-government agencies, they usurp our legislative process, get money from our government,  partner with our government, then make policies that have tremendous negative impact on agricultural/resource production. 

My wife Roni and I, have a set expectation before allowing any person to set foot on our property  People are asked to sign, and then allow us to review one of the two appropriate forms  Hope you respect the how and why we came to this point. It's unfortunate yes, but we have a people in today's society that want what others have without working for, earning  or purchasing it  legally, honorably and acceptably

We want to insure we will not have to contend with and are relieved from any liabilities that may or may not arise  We would expect immunity from any person who targets our land and water as something they think they should have instead of us...thereby creating a legal mess like so many of our colleagues have been forced to deal with.
Please understand that we work hard to support our friends in agriculture.  It grieves us to see so many entities use bully tactics to slam them in  ways including: forcing their children to register property they don't hold title to, stealing their water, stealing their land, planting critters or plants on their property then claiming them to be "possibly eligible for endangered status," refuse to enforce Country of Origin Labeling, wanting corridors everywhere, designating wetland mosquito breeding grounds, and the list goes on.

Mother nature pales next to the  man made destruction forced on these good people.

Even the name "farm bill" is misleading. Because 51% of the budget goes directly to welfare/food stamps/lunch room programs, the truthful, correct name should be The Consumer Farm Bill.

I have no idea how much an ag producer spends on legal fees and time away from the fields - just to protect essential product production for consumers But believe you me, if any other industry had to do likewise, they'd go out of business overnight.
I will be in WY through June 1st - so if after reading this you think your group could abide by my expectations, then let's visit the week of June 4th and see what can be set up.

Thank you,
Chuck

 
Charles,

I don't know if you would be interested in allowing a group of scientist from CSU (see e-mail below) but I though I'd pass this on to you.  If you would allow access to the river from your property or know of others that might you could e-mail Frank Ethridge at CSU at the following address: fredpet@warnercnr.colostate.edu
 
Hope all is well,
Fred Petersen
Weld County Extension Director
Colorado State University
970.3046535 ext 2073
Cell: 970-397-1567
fpetersen@co.weld.co.us
 
 

Frank,
 
I really don't know many landowners in that region  The two people to contact that would have a better idea would be Bruce Bosley and Fred Peterson in Logan and Weld County  I am CC'ing them this email.
 
Joel
 
Joel P. Schneekloth
Regional Water Resource Specialist
Colorado State University
40335 CR GG
Akron, CO  80720
 
Saving water today for tomorrow
 

Joel,
 
Stan Schumm and I are planning to lead a field trip with about 20 scientists to examine flow, bed forms and bars on the South Platte River between Greeley and Fort Morgan later this summer.  We are currently trying to identify owners of land along this stretch of the river to obtain permissions for access.  Robert Ward mentioned that you might might know some of the organizations or individuals who own lands adjacent to the river because of your work with irrigators up and down the river.  Some years ago we had access to the South Platte near the Hwy 39 bridge south of Goodrich, but this stretch is now owned by a hunting/fishing club with a Denver address.  We are hoping to gain access to two sites, one closer to Greeley and one closer to Fort Morgan (perhaps at the Hwy. 39 bridge crossing) and plan to be on the river for about 2-3 hours at each locality during the trip and also to do a reconnaissance sometime before the trip.
 
Any suggestions of individuals or organizations who might be willing to provide access to the river along these reaches or even a little further upstream or downstream will be greatly appreciated.
 
Best regards,
 
Frank
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Frank G. Ethridge
Professor Emeritus of Geology
Dept. of Geosciences
Colorado State University
Phone: (970) 491-6195 (5661)
FAX: (970) 491-6307
E-Mail: fredpet@warnercnr.colostate.edu
http://www.warnercnr.colostate.edu/ER/