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002530 . . Upper Colorado River Commission Vacancy Wayne Cook, Executive Director of the Upper Colorado River Commission (Commission) has announced his intentions to retire. The Commission has issued a Job Vacancy Notice for those who may be interested in filling the position. Resumes are due in the Salt Lake City office of the Commission by February 22, 2004. Water 2025 Budget Proposal On June 6, 2003, the Department of the Interior (DOl) initiated a new policy entitled "Water 2025." Water 2025 is a blueprint for DOl and other federal agencies to work with state and local officials, water user groups, environmental organizations, tribes, and others in a strategic, focused approach to predicting, preventing, and alleviating water supply crises and conflicts. Included in the Board folder is a copy of a press release from DOl announcing that President Bush's Fiscal Year 2005 budget calls for $21 million in Water 2025 funds to help communities to develop conservation, efficiency and water-marketing projects and avoid future water supply crises. The President's proposal is an increase of$13.4 million over Western Water initiative funds enacted in FY 2004. Colorado River Environmental Activities Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program The LCR MSCP Technical Contractors are preparing the public review draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), Biological Assessment (BA), and Environmental Impact StatementlReport (EISIR) for release, review, and comment in early-March 2004. These documents will be reviewed for approximately 90-120 days prior to finalization. The LCR MSCP Steering Committee is continuing to maintain the schedule leading to a Record of Decision in late-November 2004 by the Secretary of the Interior. The Steering Committee continues to make progress in the development of a federallnonfederal cost-sharing package for long-term funding of implementation of the 50-year program. The nonfederal partners have prepared a proposal that has been forwarded to Reclamation for consideration. The proposal reflects a total program need of $600 million. Of the $600 million, $200 million would be made available from the Boulder Dam Fund, $300 million in appropriations to the Bureau of Reclamation, and the remaining $100 million from the nonfederal participants. The Steering Committee continues to work on the development of proposed federal legislation authorizing the implementation of the LCR MSCP. The proposed legislation lays out the findings and purposes for the Program; authorizes expenditures and appropriations; nonfederal fiscal contributions; addresses roles, responsibilities, authorities, and the role of Native American Tribes; authorizes the governance and implementation authorities; authorizes mainstream water use in conjunction with Program implementation; and authorizes the construction of the habitat and species conservation projects; and Congressional reporting requirements. As some of the key details of the 5