Scott McInnis reappointed to serve on the Colorado River District board

Mesa County Commissioners voted 3-0 on Jan. 6 to reappoint Scott McInnis as Mesa County’s director of the Colorado River Water Conservation District. His three-year term runs through January 2029.

The appointment is made under Colorado law and the River District’s Organic Act, which requires appointees to be Mesa County residents, property owners and local taxpayers.

McInnis brings decades of public service and water policy experience to the role. A member of a multigenerational Colorado ranching family, he previously served in the Colorado House of Representatives, where he was elected House majority leader, and represented Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for six terms. He also served two terms as a Mesa County Commissioner.

“I’m honored to continue serving Mesa County on the Colorado River District board,” McInnis said. “Water is foundational to the Western Slope — from agriculture and local economies to the quality of life we value. I take seriously the responsibility to protect these interests for current and future generations.”

The Colorado River Water Conservation District plays a key role in protecting Western Slope water supplies and advocating for local water users at the state and interstate levels.

Mesa County has long prioritized protecting existing water rights relied upon by residents, farmers and businesses, including some of the most senior water rights on the Colorado River system.

“Strong, experienced representation matters when it comes to water,” the Mesa County Commissioners said in a statement. “Scott McInnis brings institutional knowledge and a deep understanding of Western Slope water issues that benefit our community and region.”