The Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District board of directors honored General Manager Terry Scanga Friday in Salida.

Scanga served on the District’s board of directors for 12 years and became its second general manager in 2001 after Ken Baker, the District’s first GM, stepped down.

Board Chairman Tim Canterbury thanked Scanga for his generosity and passion, demonstrated by the years that he gave to Upper Ark Basin communities and to the Conservancy District. “Terry, I can’t say enough. … The District has been truly blessed.”

Board Secretary Tom French, Fremont County rancher and former business owner, also praised Scanga’s work for the District. “We have been very fortunate,” he said, “to have someone with the knowledge, passion and experience of Terry Scanga” working for the District board.

Custer County resident and former Board Chair Bob Senderhauf reflected on the people “who made all of this happen – Denzel Goodwin, Ken Baker, George Everett, Jimmy McCormick, Tom Young. I’m probably leaving someone out, but those are the ones who put the organization together. … Terry stepped into that (general manager) position … sitting in that tiny office all those years ago, and I can’t emphasize enough what he has done for this organization.”

Former Board Vice Chair Greg Felt, an 18-year member of the board, shared that, as a member of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, he’s been “traveling the state talking about water. … And there’s an awful lot of people that, when you say the name, ‘Terry’ … they know exactly who you’re talking about. … He’s a known and important voice in the state of Colorado in the water world.”

Felt also recalled how, as an outfitter, he approached Scanga 20 years ago out of concern that a water right for the Salida Whitewater Park threatened the Voluntary Flow Management Program, which supports recreational boating and the Arkansas River fishery.

“He helped me contact representatives from every major player on this river,” Felt said. “We had a huge convocation at the District (offices), and we sorted it out.”

Felt continued, “There are so many people that have learned so much from you, Terry, and gone on to make an impact. … As I prepare to step into shoes that I can’t ever fill … thank you for all those years of mentorship. I wouldn’t be here today if you hadn’t opened the door a long, long time ago.”

Director Albert Eggleston, a local “ag producer,” said, “I just want to thank Terry for everything he’s done. … He’s always stood up for us, and I just want to thank him for that.”

After several other board members, staff members and consultants spoke about Scanga’s decades of mentoring them and working long days for the District, Scanga thanked them “for all the kind words.”

He recalled, “All of this started in 1977 … that horrible dry year, especially in the Upper Arkansas. … We had the debacle with (the State) turning our ditches off” when large commercial wells were allowed to pump out of priority in the Lower Arkansas Basin.

“It was Glenn Everett’s father, George, who stopped Ken Baker and got ahold of Denzel Goodwin to talk about doing something so that we have someone representing us in the Upper Arkansas Basin.”

Scanga said he had just returned to Salida after serving in the Coast Guard. “I was maybe 25 years old at the time … and went to a meeting at Wendell Hutchinson’s house. All the irrigators were there … and that’s what the catalyst was. … That meeting is what started this district.”

Scanga added, “Ken Baker was a great mentor to me as well as Denzel Goodwin and Tom Young.” Scanga also praised the consultants and staff members he worked with during his tenure. “I’ve had a lot of help. … We’ve had some great consultants, and we’ve had great staff. … They’ve made me look good. … Thank you all very much.”

Scanga’s last day as GM will be Dec. 31, after which, Greg Felt will become the District’s third general manager.

Photo: Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District General Manager Terry Scanga holds his “Friend of the Arkansas” Award, which he received in 2020 for his decades of service to the water community, including serving with the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District, Colorado Water Congress, the Arkansas River Basin Roundtable and the Colorado Inter-Basin Compact Committee (courtesy photo).