Opposition is mounting to a proposal that could put the Pine River Irrigation District in the water business far beyond its current involvement. On June 19, the district, known as PRID, applied to the 6th Judicial District water court to lease Vallecito Reservoir water for household and other uses in areas outside the district, including the Florida River drainage and part of the Animas River basin. Statements of opposition already have been filed by the Colorado state engineer and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. Helmin-Schmid represents Opponents of the Gopher Hole Project, which in October 2003 out-maneuvered the PRID board, preventing it from leasing water for other than agricultural use within the district. The name of the opposition group stems from its allegation that using water for other than irrigation was tantamount to pouring it down a gopher hole. 

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