In this issue
Denver Water loses an icon
The head of Denver Water, Hamlet “Chips” Barry, died May 2 in a tractor accident on his farm in Hawaii. He was two months shy of retiring.
“Few people in Colorado could match the vision or influence Chips Barry had when it came to water issues,” said Mayor John Hickenlooper in a statement. “He was a pioneer who helped build a conservation program that is nationally and internationally recognized as a model of success. However great his legacy in water, what we will miss most is the person — the warmth and the wit, the charm and the kindness. He was one of the most gracious and considerate people I’ve ever known. Chips will be greatly missed.”
Barry was known for his approachable leadership style, sharp intelligence and easygoing sense of humor. “Hamlet ‘Chips’ Barry was a Colorado original,” said Gov. Bill Ritter in a statement. “Chips probably understood Colorado water better than anyone alive today.”
Barry attended Denver Public Schools, Yale College and Columbia Law School. After law school, he worked as a VISTA volunteer in rural Alaska, as a law clerk to Judge Robert McWilliams on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver and as a legal services lawyer in Micronesia.
Barry, Denver Water’s longest-serving manager at almost 20 years, worked in Gov. Roy Romer’s cabinet as the executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources before moving to Denver Water.
During his tenure at Denver Water, the utility built a recycled water distribution system, invested millions of dollars in improvements at its treatment facilities, monitored recovery from several devastating wildfires in Denver Water’s watershed and led the work to recover from one of the worst droughts in the city’s history.
Jim Lochhead, who was appointed Denver Water’s new CEO/Manager weeks before Barry’s death, told employees that Barry’s death was “such a loss to the water community.”
“By bringing humor and humanity to his position, Chips was able to lead Denver Water through a transitional period that has established us as a cutting-edge 21stcentury water utility,” he said.
Denver Water names new CEO/Manager
Weeks before retiring manager Hamlet “Chips” Barry died, the Board of Water Commissioners appointed Jim Lochhead as Barry’s replacement.
Lochhead currently is a lead shareholder at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, where he has negotiated many complex transactions regarding water and other natural resources in the Rocky Mountain West. He has a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology and a law degree from the University of Colorado.
“I’m excited to lead the premier water utility in Colorado,” said Jim Lochhead, who starts work as Denver Water’s new CEO/Manager on June 1. “Denver Water is a solid, well-run utility. At the same time, we will face a number of challenges in the future, and I look forward to bringing my experience to bear and work with the employees to meet those challenges.”
Lochhead began his career practicing water law in Glenwood Springs in the early 1980s. He served as the executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources under Gov. Roy Romer from 1994 to 1998.
For the past 20 years, Jim Lochhead has represented the state of Colorado and a coalition of major water utilities and districts — including Denver Water — with regard to interstate Colorado River operations and issues. He was Colorado’s commissioner for and vice-chairman of the Upper Colorado River Commission.
“Jim brings deep experience and expertise in Colorado water issues and the political process, as well as outstanding leadership, strategic visioning and management skills,” said Penfield Tate, president of the Board of Water Commissioners.
Lawn watering times for June
Don’t forget to adjust your sprinkler system settings each month.
Here are the recommended watering times for June:
Fixed spray heads: 20 minutes per zone
Rotor heads: 43 minutes per zone.
Hose and sprinkler: 30 minutes per zone.
Never water more than three days a week, and if it rains, you may need to water only once or twice that week. Lawn watering is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to prevent water loss from evaporation.
There's more to water than drinking it
Denver Water’s reservoirs and watershed areas offer many recreational activities. Several sites are managed in conjunction with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Colorado State Park system and federal agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management.
Antero Reservoir is one of the state’s best places to fish, while Waterton Canyon draws recreationists from all over to hike, bicycle and ride horses. Gross Reservoir is a great place to canoe, kayak and picnic, and Dillon Reservoir is a great place to go sail boating.
Get your FREE yard sign today
Want to proclaim your commitment to using water wisely? Order your free Use Only What You Need yard sign today.