From The Pueblo Chieftain (Chris Woodka):
The Arkansas River Basin Water Forum gave Bud O’Hara, water resources division manager for the Pueblo Board of Water Works, the Bob Appel Friend of the Arkansas River Award at its annual meeting.
“He has walked this basin literally from top to bottom and even across the Continental Divide where an important part of the water in this basin is imported from,” said Phil Reynolds, a Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District project manager, in presenting the award. The forum annually recognizes a person who has made contributions to the river with the award, which is named for one of the forum’s founders. Past winners are Allen Ringle, Carl Genova, Reed Dils, Paul Flack, Denzel Goodwin and Paul Conlin.
O’Hara was surprised by the award, having been convinced to attend the meeting at the last minute by his boss, Executive Director Alan Hamel. “I really appreciate this. Gracious, heavens,” O’Hara said. “Really, it’s been Alan who has given me the freedom to do things for the water board.”
More Arkansas River basin coverage here.