BOARD00100 ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 1/23/2007
• Description: OWCDP Section - Guidelines for Financial Assistance to Develop Drought Mitigation Plans
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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GUIDELINES FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP
DROUGHT MITIGATION PLANS

1. Background.

Pursuant to the Water Conservation Act of 2004, HB 04-1365, the Office of Water Conservation
and Drought Planning ("Office") provides grants to covered entities and state or local
governmental entities to develop drought mitigation plans that meet the provisions of ~37-60-
126.5 C.R.S. and the Guidelines adopted by the CWCB Board for Drought Mitigation Planning.

A drought mitigation plan can be defined as a strategy or combination of strategies for temporary
supply management and demand management responses to temporary and potentially recurring
water supply shortages and other water supply emergencies. Drought response measures in this
context typically include mandatory restrictions on certain water uses, water allocation, or the
temporary use of an alternative water supply. The main objective is to preserve essential public
services and minimize the adverse effects of a water supply emergency on public health and
safety, economic activity, environmental resources and individual lifestyles. Most important in
developing a drought plan is to determine the actions and procedures for responding to a drought-
related water supply emergency before an actual water shortage emergency occurs.

2. Intent of the Board

It is the explicit intent ofthe Board to work with water users and local entities to increase drought
planning in the State by:

. Increasing the number of covered entities and state or local governmental entities with
CWCB approved drought mitigation plans;
. Improving the nature and breadth of drought mitigation practices at the local level; and
. Increasing the amount of technical assistance that the CWCB provides to local entities.

With these objectives in mind, the Board intends to administer the Grant program for purposes of
providing assistance to the following:

. Covered entities or State or local entities that desire to improve, update, and/or create
Drought Mitigation Plans;
. Entities, given expected growth trends, which either require or desire Drought Mitigation
Plans; and
. Entities which sustained severe adverse impacts during the recent 2000-2003 drought.