Northern Water Director Profiles

Mike Applegate was appointed to the Northern Water and Municipal Subdistrict boards on Sept. 28, 1991. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Colorado State University. Applegate is the CEO, president and major shareholder in the Applegate Group, Inc., a consulting engineering firm specializing in water resource services in the Western United States. Applegate is a water resources engineer working on planning, water rights evaluation, river basin modeling and design.

He is a member of these professional organizations:

• CSU Professional Learning Institute
• CSU Morgan Library Water Tables Committee
• CSU Civil Engineering Industrial Advisory Committee
• American Council of Engineering Companies

 Applegate has served as:

• A CSU advisory board member and guest lecturer on ethics to the College of Engineering since 2008
• A member of a CSU organizing committee to raise funds for the Water Resources Archives since 2005
• A CSU advisor to the Civil Engineering Department for strategic direction since 2004

He delivered the commencement address to the CSU Fall 2008 College of Engineering graduating class.

Applegate grew up on a ranch in the mountains west of Fort Collins and learned irrigation via manual labor. In 1972, he filed a water court application for the family ranch and decided to pursue a water resources engineering degree. Applegate has worked as a consulting engineer his entire 36-year career.

Applegate received the George Washington Award for Community Service in 2006 from the American Council of Engineering Companies. He was named Engineer of the Year by the Professional Engineers of Colorado in 1993.

Applegate’s hobbies include stained glass window design and construction, hunting and fishing and woodworking. He and his wife Chris live in Fort Collins and on the Stove Prairie, CO ranch where he grew up. They have two daughters, Samantha and Paige.

Bill Brown was appointed to the Northern Water and Municipal Subdistrict boards on Sept. 28, 1992 and elected vice president of the Municipal Subdistrict in October 2001. He has a Bachelor of Science degree and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of North Dakota. Brown was in the United States Air Force from 1964 to 1967.

Brown is the former president of the Fort Collins law firm of Fischer, Brown, Bartlett and Gunn, P.C. He practiced law with emphasis on water rights and other water-related legal matters. Currently, he practices law part time. He is a member of the Colorado Bar Association and the Larimer County Bar Association.

Brown has been involved in several civic and professional organizations:

• United Way of Larimer County, board of directors
• Pathways Past Poverty, Larimer County, member of steering committee
• Colorado Water Conservation Board, member, 1998-2000
• Colorado Water Conservation Board, chairman, 1999-2000  
• South Platte Basin Roundtable
• Larimer County Bar Association, past president
• Colorado Water Congress, member of State Affairs Committee for 25 years

In 2011, Brown received Honorary Life Membership from the Colorado Water Congress Board of Directors.

Brown was honored as a “Water Buffalo” by the Water Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association. He received the Larimer County Bar Association’s Professionalism award in 2000.

Brown enjoys singing in choral groups, skiing, golf, ice skating, classical music, fly-fishing, travel and following the University of North Dakota “Fighting Sioux” hockey team. Brown and his wife Ruth live in Fort Collins. They have one daughter, Meg, and two sons, Dan and Jim.

Sue Ellen Harrison was appointed to the Northern Water and Municipal Subdistrict boards on Sept. 28, 2009. She has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Colorado School of Law.

Harrison has been an attorney for 35 years. She has advised boards, commissions and departments and participated in administrative proceedings with a focus on federal and state environmental issues, including water quality, drinking water, wetlands and public utilities regulation. Harrison has also worked for the City of Boulder Assistant City Attorney, the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Legal Counsel, and the State of Colorado Office of the Attorney General.

For nine years, Harrison was a member of the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission. She was the chair of the commission for a year.

Harrison’s law firm, Sue Ellen Harrison PC in Boulder, specializes in:

• National Environmental Policy Act issues
• Public Utilities Commission regulation
• Power purchase agreements (hydropower)
• Water quality issues
• Government contracts
• Federal environmental permitting

Harrison enjoys travel, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, reading and theater. She lives in Boulder. Harrison has a daughter, Brooke, and a son, Fenton.

Don Magnuson was appointed to the Northern Water and Municipal Subdistrict boards on Sept. 28, 2004. He attended Biola University and Colorado State University.

Magnuson has been the General Manager of the Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company in Cortez, CO since January 1, 2011.

Magnuson worked for Cache la Poudre Management Company for more than 25 years as a water technician and office manager before becoming superintendent. He managed several canal systems in the Cache la Poudre River basin. He has also owned a ranching and commercial feeding business and is on the board of the Colorado Water Congress.

Magnuson’s interest in water began when he was a boy listening to his father and uncles discuss water issues. His father built spreader dams and Magnuson tried to follow his example.

Magnuson spends his spare time pursuing agricultural interests. He and his wife Jeanette live in Eaton. They have two daughters, Regina and Kim.

Brad Stromberger was appointed to the Northern Water and Municipal Subdistrict boards on Sept. 28, 2010. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science from Colorado State University.

Stromberger and his family own and operate a 3,000-acre irrigated farm near Iliff, CO. They grow corn, kidney beans, alfalfa and wheat. The farm has been in Stromberger’s family since 1969.

Stromberger is one of founding directors of the Lower Logan Well Users and its current president. Logan Well Users augments approximately 140 groundwater wells.

Stromberger also helped establish the District 64 Reservoir Company, which acquired 100 percent of Ovid Reservoir’s assets.

Stromberger is the vice president of the Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District board.

He is on the parish council for St. Catherine’s Church of Siena.

Stromberger enjoys doing 4-H projects with his family. He and his wife Jonna live in Iliff and have three daughters: Brooke, Alli and Bailey.

Jerry Winters was appointed to the Northern Water and Municipal Subdistrict boards on Sept. 28, 1995. He has a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Colorado School of Law.

Winters is a partner in the law firm Winters, Hellerich & Hughes LLC in Greeley. The firm’s practice areas include wills, trusts, estates, probate, corporation law and real estate law.

Winters was raised on an irrigated farm and owns a farm near Greeley that has irrigation wells and other surface water rights. As a lawyer, Winters has handled the sale and purchase of farms with water rights and adjudicated irrigation.

Winters’ legal and civic organization experience includes:

• Town Counsel, LaSalle, CO
• Colorado Bar Association Executive Council Tax Section (past member)
• Weld County Bar Association president, 1973-74
• Northern Colorado Estate Planning Council
• 19th Judicial District Nominating Committee, 1993-1999
• Aims Community College Foundation, director, 1983-1999
• Trust and Estate Council, 1997-2000
• Delegate to Board of Governors of the Colorado Bar Association and American Bar Association, 1992-1996.

 

Winters was named a “Preeminent” attorney in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory (A U.S. directory of attorneys).

Winters enjoys music and sports. He and his wife Nancy live in Windsor. They have a son, Frederick.

Kenton Brunner was appointed to the Northern Water and Municipal Subdistrict boards on March 14, 1994. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in business finance from Colorado State University.

From 1972 to 1992, Brunner farmed more than 1,000 irrigated acres. He raised a variety of crops, including beets, corn, pinto beans, barley, cucumbers and alfalfa. He also fed cattle and sheep.

Before farming, Brunner was a district sales representative for Shell Oil Co. He had direct contact with more than 30 Shell Oil service stations.

Brunner has been on the Windsor Water and Sewer Board since 1979 and chairman since 1990. The board makes recommendations to the Windsor Town Board regarding water, sewer and storm drainage issues.

Brunner has been a member of the Greeley Country Club since 1972 and on its board of directors from 2003 to 2008. He has been the grounds chairman for two years, the golf chairman for two years and the vice president of operations for one year.

Brunner has received these awards and recognition:

• Jaycees Colorado Farmer of the Year – 1976
• Hi-Ten Sugar Beet Grower – seven years
• 200+ Bushel Club, Colorado Corn Growers – numerous years

Brunner has been active on the Kern Reservoir board and the Cache la Poudre Irrigation & Reservoir Co. board.

"I felt obligated to Northern Colorado and its people to do my best to keep water issues at a minimum and continue to protect all of us in Northern Colorado,” Brunner said. “I have really enjoyed my 16-plus years on the Northern Water Board. Hopefully, I can continue to be an active member for a long time."

Brunner enjoys golf and traveling. He and his wife Sharon live in Windsor. They have a son, Marc, and a daughter, Amy.

Bill Emslie was appointed to the Northern Water and Municipal Subdistrict boards on Sept. 28, 2005. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from Michigan State University. He also attended Colorado State University and the U.S. Navy Nuclear Power School. Emslie is a captain in the United States Navy (retired).

Emslie is a senior project engineer for construction of utility generation and transmission projects at Platte River Power Authority. Emslie manages PRPA's water resources.

Emslie has also done electronic controls testing for Horizon Technology, energy conservation engineering for Public Service Company of New Mexico and nuclear submarine service for the United States Navy’s nuclear submarine operations.

Emslie's professional civic organization experience includes:

• Platte River Power Authority’s representative to Windy Gap Participants’ Committee since 1992
• American Public Power Association, Demonstration of Energy Efficient Developments, board of directors
• Boy Scouts of America Longs Peak Council, board of trustees member and vice president of district operations
• Association of the United States Navy, immediate past vice president of professional development
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, member
• Rotary Club of Fort Collins, After Work past president; currently chair of International Service
• Fort Collins Area United Way, past president and campaign chair
• Poudre School District, past chair of mill levy increase to support budget

Emslie has been an Eagle Scout, a Trident Scholar at the United States Naval Academy, and a Leadership Fort Collins participant.

Emslie is actively involved in irrigation at his farm north of Fort Collins, where he cuts and bales hay. He is president of the Shamrock Irrigation Company and has managed water resources at the Platte River Power Authority since 1992.

Emslie enjoys hiking, fishing and farming. He and his wife Tracey live in Fort Collins and have one daughter, Alexis, and three sons: David, Andrew and Charles.

Rob McClary was appointed to the Northern Water and Municipal Subdistrict boards on September 28, 2011. He has a Bachelor’s degree in general agronomy from Colorado State University.

McClary and his family own and operate McClary Farms, Inc. in Sedgwick County in Northeastern Colorado. McClary was born in Sedgwick County and operates the family farm with his brother Jack and father Wally. The farm has 1,800 irrigated acres, 2,000 calves, corn, alfalfa, wheat and sugar beets. The McClarys irrigate the farm with water from 10 irrigation wells and shares in Jumbo Reservoir.

Irrigation plays a key role in McClary’s farm operation. He has been on the boards of these irrigation organizations:

• Julesburg Irrigation District – 13 years, current president
• Groundwater Appropriators of the South Platte River Basin (GASP) – 15 years through 2003
• Ovid Reservoir Project – 2 years through 2003
• Sedgwick County Well Users – 9 years, current vice president
• Petersen Augmentation LLC – 5 years, current president

In the 1980s, McClary was involved with the Sedgwick Sand Draws, a flood control program in Sedgwick County.

McClary has also been the treasurer for the Republican Central Committee for Sedgwick County for 16 years.

McClary enjoys spending time with his nephew Mitchell and his niece Natalie and their families.

John Rusch was appointed to the Northern Water and Municipal Subdistrict boards on May 10, 2002.

He has been involved in irrigated agriculture his entire life. Rusch has worked with several entities involved in the development, delivery, and use of surface and groundwater. As the owner of CCII, LLC, he is a farm management and water resource consultant and provides groundwater augmentation accounting and augmentation plan development.

He has also worked with several civic and professional organizations:

• Trinity Lutheran Church of Fort Morgan
• Morgan County Quality Water District, board member
• Bijou Irrigation Company, former director (26 years)
• Bijou Irrigation District, former director (27 years)

Rusch enjoys spending his spare time with family and friends and doing computer programming. Rusch and his wife Becky live in Fort Morgan. They have two children, Jill and Matthew.

 

Les Williams was appointed to the Northern Water and Municipal Subdistrict boards on Sept. 28, 1989 and elected president of the Municipal Subdistrict in October, 2000. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University and a degree in dentistry from Northwestern University.

Williams retired in 2010 from the St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District, where he was the manager for 23 years. He ran the day-to-day operations of the district.

He has also been the president of the District 6 Water Users Association and president of the Plumb and Dailey Ditch Company.

Williams received a certificate of special recognition from U.S. Rep. David Skaggs for Williams' work on the North St. Vrain Creek Wild & Scenic River proposal.

Williams received the 2010 Friends of the South Platte award from the South Platte Forum.

Williams enjoys golf, fly-fishing and spending time with his grandsons. Williams and his wife Martha live in Longmont. They have a daughter, Kristin, and son, Todd.

 

Dennis Yanchunas was appointed to the Northern Water and Municipal Subdistrict boards on Aug. 20, 2010. He will serve out the remaining two years of late Director Hank Kugeler’s term as one of the three Boulder County representatives on the board.

Yanchunas has a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics from the College of Wooster (Ohio). He is a graduate of the U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School and served four years as a commissioned officer with the U.S. Navy.

He is self-employed in securities sales for the Union Reservoir Company.

Yanchunas has three decades of water-related experience serving on municipal and rural water boards and working for agricultural ditch companies.

His experience includes:

• Union Reservoir Company President (current)
• St. Vrain & Left Hand Water Conservancy District President
• City of Longmont water board (Chairman for 12 of 15 years on board)
• Niwot Ditch Company Superintendent and Secretary
• Beckwith Ditch and Reservoir Company Director
• Denio and Taylor Mill Ditch Company Director
• Clover Basin Irrigation Company Secretary
• Palmerton Consolidated Ditch Company Superintendant

“After 30 years of working in water, I felt that serving as a director on the Northern Water Board would be a great way for me to contribute to the region and its water needs,” Yanchunas said.

Yanchunas enjoys reading and journal writing. “My other consuming hobby is water,” he said. Yanchunas and his wife Pat live in Longmont. They have two grown children.