Utahn to direct Colorado River panel

The Upper Colorado River Commission, with headquarters in Salt Lake City, has chosen Don A. Ostler to be its executive director and secretary. Ostler will replace Wayne E. Cook, who retired in March 2004 after more than 13 years with the commission.

"I am extremely excited to begin work on Colorado River issues and to provide service to the member states of the Upper Colorado River Basin," Ostler said. "It is a great privilege to work on these issues which may very well be the future of this region."

The commission administers the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact, signed in 1948 by representatives from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming and the United States. Its purpose is to provide for the equitable division and apportionment of the use of the waters of the Colorado River system.

Ostler will assume his duties as executive director and secretary at a time when many critical policy decisions will be made as the Colorado River Basin states respond to a diminishing water supply resulting from six years of drought.

Ostler, a University of Utah civil engineering graduate, has served Utah for 32 years. His service includes implementation of the Clean Water Act and development of the state Groundwater Protection Program.

Ostler starts Monday.