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The Chatfield Reservoir Reallocation study experienced a temporary hiatus in work due to a minor contracting glitch between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and their consulting contractor, Tetra Tech, Inc in Lakewood. Work is scheduled to resume as of early September, and the Chatfield Study Group will . meet again shortly thereafter to discuss study progress. To recap the project, the fundamental scope of the study is to look at the feasibility of converting flood control storage space in Chatfield Reservoir, owned by the U.S. Corps of Engineers (Corps), into water supply storage space. The target amount of space for the reallocation analysis has been 20,600 acre-feet, and the Corps released the approval of their Antecedent Flood Study which confirms that the new water supply storage space of 20,600 acre-feet is available. Work is in progress to complete the Feasibility Report, Environmental Impact Statement, Recreation Impact Study, and other components of the project that will hopefully lead to successful contracting between local Water Users and the Corps for purchase of water supply storage space in the reservoir. All in all, the team is very optimistic about a successful outcome resulting from the time and effort spent on developing an important opportunity for additional water supply storage space along the Front Range. Cherry Creek Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) Study: Progress continues to be made by the Omaha District 0 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding the Cherry Creek PMP review and revised PMF study. Monthly conference calls are conducted between CWCB staff and Corps staff to discuss the project status. During July 2006 CWCB staff met with the Corps of Engineers Project Manager, John Palensky, along with interested local representatives to discuss the ongoing Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) and Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) studies for Cherry Creek Reservoir. An internal project kick-off meeting was previously held in early February 2006 to re-initiate studies based on direction received from Colorado Congressional delegates Tom Tancredo and Joel Hefley who approved the Corps to move forward with the Cherry Creek PMF Study. The Corps will work closely with the CWCB and local interests during this important next phase of the work. This PMF study will be completed by Omaha Corps professional staff. The Corps and the CWCB have developed a work plan and are updating the project schedule for completing the major study tasks. The ultimate goal in this process is to complete the PMF study with the most reasonable PMP values, and then develop dam safety improvement recommendations at Cherry Creek Reservoir that are acceptable to local, state, and federal interests. The recommendations may lead to the need for physical improvements to the dam/reservoir based on current federal standards and the desire for increasing public safety. . Big Thompson River Flood Event - 30 Years Later: On July 31, 1976, massive thunderstorms stalled over the Big Thompson River drainage between Loveland and Estes Park. Pounding rain caused a wall of water to roar through the canyon; 19 feet high in places, it destroyed homes, businesses, U.S. 34 and, worst of all, took 145 lives. To commemorate the event and to pay homage to those who lost their lives or were otherwise impacted by the terrible disaster, the USGS along with other sponsors held an open house on July 31, 2006 at the Viestenz-Smith mountain park in the Big Thompson Canyon. The open house was very well attended, and a high water mark plaque was unveiled as a reminder to the public of the historical event and of the dangers of severe flooding in Colorado. Several CWCB Flood Protection Staff members attended and spoke with flood experts as well as flood survivors who were present at the ceremony. Tom Browning prepared an article for the Denver Post Perspective section that ran on Sunday July 30th to highlight facts of the flood event, to provide pubic safety flood tips, and to enumerate the functions of the CWCB flood program. Public Meetings Initiated for South Platte Recovery Implementation Program: Governor Heineman has initiated a series of public meetings in Nebraska to discuss the proposed Platte River Recovery Implementation Program. He held the first meeting in Scottsbluff on September 6, 2006. He will be holding additional meetings at I :00 pm in Grand Island on September 22, 2006 and in Lincoln on October 10, 2006. The Governors of each State and the Secretary of the Interior are likely to sign an extension to . 26