Duties and History of Commissioners

DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIONER

The principal responsibility of the Commissioner is to administer the provisions of Globe Equity No. 59 Consent Decree (Gila Decree) for dividing the available water supply of the Gila River among the various right-holders--Gila River Indian Community, San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District, ASARCO, Town of Kearny, Winkelman agricultural users, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Gila Valley Irrigation District and Franklin Irrigation District. Duties include management of the Call System for determining Priority and Regulation Years for the various reaches of the river; recording and monitoring acres "Then Being Irrigated" by the parties; determining and tracking use of annual apportionments; track releases and diversions for the lower valley; authorize release of water from Coolidge Dam on the San Carlos Reservoir; oversee employees in the Safford office of the Commissioner; and resolve differences that arise among the users. Parties not satisfied with decisions of the Commissioner can petition the US District Court for relief.

CHARLES A. FIRTH

Term: November 12, 1935-November 23, 1947 (12 yr)

Appointed by The Honorable Albert M. Sames, US District Court, Tucson, AZ

Mr. Firth was working with irrigation projects in the Casa Grande area of Central Arizona at the time of his appointment. He graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in engineering and was a Registered Land Surveyor. Mr. Firth and his wife, Mamie, had two sons, Harry and Richard. He was a Sergeant in World War I, belonging to the 20th Engineers. Mr. Firth was a Mason, member of the American Legion and the Rotary Club. Firth Park in Safford was named for him. Mr. Firth died November 23, 1947, following a stroke.

GERALD K. DUNGAN

Term: December 1, 1947-September 20, 1967 (20 yr)

Appointed Acting Water Commissioner by The Honorable Howard C Speakman, US District Court, Tucson, AZ.

Mr. Dungan started working in the Water Commissioner's office May 1, 1943. Prior to that time he worked for Phelps Dodge Corporation in Morenci, AZ. Mr. Dungan and his wife, Dorothy, had two children Mickie and Gerald. He was very active in Masonry, in the Blue Lodge and in the York Rite Bodies. Mr. Dungan was killed September 20, 1967 in an automobile accident on the Safford Bridge.

GEORGE E. GREINER

Term: September 22, 1967-December 31, 1991 (24 yr)

Appointed Acting Water Commissioner by The Honorable James A. Walsh, US District Court, Tucson, AZ. Appointed as Water Commissioner by Judge Walsh on September 9, 1974.

He started working in the Water Commissioner's office November 1, 1944. Prior to that time he worked for the US Geological Survey in Safford. He and his wife, Ada Louise, are the parents of two daughters, Georgeanne and Margaret. He attended the University of Oklahoma for two years and Long Beach Junior College for one semester. Mr. Greiner was a Mason and member of the York Rite Bodies. He had a life membership at the Mt. Graham Golf Course. He had been an avid bass fisherman for years. Mr. Greiner retired December 31, 1991 and resided in Safford until his death in 2004.

DONALD L. WEESNER

Term: January 1, 1992 to May 31, 2005

Appointed by: The Honorable John C. Coughenour, US District Court, Seattle, WA.

Mr. Weesner is a University of Arizona graduate (BS in Mechanical Engineering). Other educational background includes:

Program	Institution/Location	Years
Industrial Management Institute	Arizona State University	1961-1964
Applied Management Science	Minneapolis, MN	1969
Water Systems Management Workshop	US Bureau of Reclamation, Denver	1973
Advanced Program Management	Sunnyvale, CA	1979
Concrete Technology	US Bureau of Reclamation, Denver	1962

Mr. Weesner has extensive experience in water resource management. Prior to being appointed Commissioner, he worked 27 years for the Salt River Project (SRP), retiring as Assistant General Manager for Water. His responsibilities for SRP included management of the water group (operations, canal, construction, and maintenance departments) and the hydrology group (water rights and watershed management). After retiring from SRP in 1986 he worked as General Manager for the San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District in Coolidge. He also worked as an engineering consultant with his own firm.

Mr. Weesner is or has been a member of many professional organizations: American Society of Civil Engineers; American Concrete Institute; Reclamation Association; US Committee on Irrigation, Drainage, and Flood Control; Northwest Irrigation Operators; Arizona Farm Bureau, and Colorado River Water Users Association. In addition he has served on numerous local and regional advisory boards and committees.

Jon W. Allred

June 1, 2005 –

Appointed by the Honorable Susan R. Bolton, U. S. District Court, Phoenix, AZ

Mr. Allred served as the Senior Assistant to Commissioner Greiner from September 1, 1980 through December 31, 1991

Mr. Allred was appointed by the Honorable John C. Coughenour to serve as the interim water Commissioner from January 1, 1992 through February 28, 1992

Mr. Allred served as Assistant Water Commissioner under Commissioner Weesner from March 1992 through May 31, 2005.