BOARD00146 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

i' . . . " o Cross-Cutting Issues (incl. Education & Outreach) . Policy Work Groups (including consideration of water supply & other adaptation issues) To date, a policy work group focused on water supply issues does not formally exist under the current scope of this Project. However, project leaders have solicited interest in the formation of such a working or sub group to focus on potential impacts to Colorado's water supplies from climate change/variability. The CWCB has expressed an interest to participate in such a work group. Tamarisk Control Update: The Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration Act signed by the President in October 2006 authorizes $80 million for the Secretary of Interior to assess the level of infestation, water savings potentials, and to fund a variety of cost-shared demonstration projects and related research on control and revegetation over a five year period. Although as of yet no funds have been appropriated we continue to hope for two large-scale demonstrations, one each on the Colorado and Arkansas rivers as well as research activities at the state's universities and federal facilities. In anticipation of this federal funding the Colorado General Assembly is considering a $1 million per year grant program to be managed by the Weed Control Program at the Colorado Dept. of Agriculture [HB07- 1038] utilizing severance tax funds. The CWCB would have an advisory role. The Tamarisk Coalition will be completing the map and inventory work by developing digital files for use in GIS systems and more convenient distribution and sharing of the inventory data and final project documentation and accounting before the end of this June. If approved in this year's "Long Bill" we will have a $70,000 planning grant program to cost share with watershed groups doing tamarisk control work. We expect to use the Coalition to help coordinate and administer these grants. Arkansas River Basin Arkansas River Basin Water Forum: The 2007 Arkansas River Basin Water Forum will be held in Rocky Ford on April 12-13, at the Gobin Center. Both Hal Simpson and David Pope from Kansas will be featured speakers at this year's event. The Forum serves as a conduit for information about the Arkansas River Basin in Colorado, and for issues related to water allocation and management. The objective of the Forum is to promote open dialogue among water users and the general public, thereby creating a greater understanding of Colorado water law, beneficial water use, and principles of water conservation. Through this dialogue, the Forum seeks to find common ground between the primary water users in the basin. The Forum particularly targets agricultural, municipal, industrial, environmental, recreational, and governmental interests in the basin. The Forum is a friendly, constructive medium where individuals and organizations are able to explain their views and engage in open dialogue with other water users in the basin. Though past Forums, a wider understanding of water issues has evolved. We hope this greater knowledge contributes toward management decisions that serve the common good for all who call the Arkansas River Basin their home. Additional information may be found at the Forum website: http://www.arbwf.org/default.htm Kansas v Colorado Litigation Account Update: As discussed at the January meeting when the annual report to the legislature was reviewed, long term O&M funds beyond 2007 remain a concern that the State Engineers Office is trying to address through cooperative funding requests to the CWWRI and the Lower Arkansas Valley WCD. Discussions with CSU regarding construction of the smaller reference lysimeter in 2007 will produce a design and cost estimate which we will bring back to the Board in May to consider additional funding needs. All other contracts [weather stations, expert witness, and irrigation studies] on this project will be expiring on June 30, 2007 and we do not anticipate any extensions at this time. Arkansas River Compact Administration (ARCA): Hal Simpson and I again met with David Pope and his staff in Denver for the fifth round of the ARCA Special Engineering Committee on Feb. 12-13. Weare nearing agreement on several more issues following ARCA action at the 2006 Annual Meeting on the initial four recommendations. A sixth round of Special Engineering Comm. meetings has been 19