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<br />Statewide <br />I i <br />IDCC Meeting: The IDCC met in Denver on Fieb. 2. One of the major discussion topics invQlved the <br />CWCB's relationship with the IDCe. I stressed Ithat we are committe~ to supporting the implefnentation <br />of the Water for the 21 sl Century Act and that we must work closely With the IDCC and the baSIn <br />roundtables. I ' <br />i <br />I <br />Randy Seaholm also made a presentation regarding Colorado River issues. <br />I <br />The next IDCC meeting is scheduled for March 30 in Denver. <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />MEGA Board Meeting: The state Minerals, E~ergy and Geology Policy Advisory Board met in Denver <br />on Feb. 6. The major discussion involved the cJrrent status oflegislation that appropriates Se~erance Tax <br />I <br />Trust Fund Operational Account funds for non-IpNR eligible entities and projects. Currently aU this <br />legislation is being held in the House Finance C9mmittee until an updated severance tax reven~e <br />projection is released on March 20.' . <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Severance Tax Audit: The Legislative Audit Committee is being an audit of the expenditure 'of <br />severance tax expenditures. We met with the aU;ditors for an introduction meeting on Feb. 9 aqd are <br />waiting to see what the scope of the audit will b~. ' <br /> <br />; <br />New DNR Executive Director Briefings: We have met twice with the new DNR Executive Director to <br />brief him on our programs and projects. Each s~ction made a brief presentation and I believe t~ese <br />briefings were extremely helpful. I <br /> <br />GOCO Grant Request: We met with representatives from several conservation groups on Feb. 22 to <br />discuss co-sponsoring a Great Outdoors Colora40 (GOCO) grant request. Concept papers for region-wide . <br />or state-wide projects must be submitted to GO~O by the end of March. <br /> <br />While the CWCB is not an eligible GOCO funds recipient, the DOW and these conservation groups are. I <br />am hopeful we can assemble a cooperative grant to obtain funds to implement our instream flow <br />I <br />acquisition program. I <br />I <br />If the concept paper is approved, a more detai1e~ application is due by the end of June 2007. <br /> <br />We have a lot of work to do to see if we can assemble a winning concept paper by the end of March. <br />I . <br />The support ofthe new DNR Executive Director. who is a member of the GOCO Board, will ~e crucial. <br /> <br />Lewis Entz Receives Aspinall Award: The Colorado Water Congress recognized Lewis Entz's <br />contributions to water legislation in Colorado during its annual convention on Jan. 25-26. - : <br />I <br /> <br />Entz, 75, a Republican, began a career of publici service in 1969 when he was elected an Alambsa County <br />Commissioner. The Hooper farmer served in local office until 1982. He then served as state ~ <br />representative from 1983-1998 and in 2001 was1appointed to finish Gigi Dennis' term as state!senator. He <br />retained the position after a successful election and served in the senate through 2006. ' <br /> <br />Entz said he carried 439 bills, some of which dio not pass. During his decades serving first as a state <br />I <br />representative and then state senator from the San Luis Valley, Entz carried 70 water-related bills ranging <br />I <br />from the 1988 action that allowed recharge to be considered a beneficial use to the legislation following <br />the 2002 drought that provided for water managfment sub-districts. ; . <br /> <br />I <br />One piece of legislation for which he is particularly proud was the bill allowing the Conejos Gonservancy <br />District to purchase the Platoro Reservoir for $100,000 through a low-interest loan plus a $109,000 grant. <br /> <br />I 16 i <br />I <br />I <br />