Arkansas - Fountain Creek Vision Task Force_Water Activity Summary

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Water Supply Reserve Account - Grant and Loan Program Water Activity Summary Sheet Applicant: Pueblo and EI Paso Counties Water Activity Name: Fountain Creel( Vision Tasl( Force Water Activity Purpose: Study or Analysis of consumptive and non-consumptive needs County: EI Paso, Pueblo, Teller Drainage Basin: Fountain Creel( Water Source: Multiple not specified Water Activity Summary: The seed which has blossomed to become the Fountain Creel( Vision Tasl( Force was planted by EI Paso County Commissioner Sally Clarl( in July, 2006. Seel(ing to create consensus around the future of Fountain Creel(, the initial meeting included interested parties from federal, state and local levels along with active members of the Fountain Creel( Watershed study group. A second meeting was hosted in Pueblo County by Commissioner Loretta Kennedy with a focus on inclusiveness towards all stal(eholders and identification of organizing principles for moving toward a vision. A fundamental belief by all parties was that an independent, neutral facilitator was essential to the success of the effort. Amount Requested: $75,000 Source of Funds: Basin Account Matching Funds: Past contribution of $43,800 Therefore, the Fountain Creel( Vision Tasl( Force is the creation ofEI Paso County and Pueblo County. Joining in sponsorship of this activity are the Lower Arl(ansas Valley Water Conservancy District and the EI Paso County Water Authority. There are more than 200 members of the full Tasl( Force, which includes all interested parties. These 200 people receive regular email updates on the progress of the Consensus Committee and the worl(ing groups. There are quarterly Tasl( Force meetings, at which this larger group can engage in a constructive dialogue with the Consensus Committee and worl(ing group members about the issues in the watershed and the best approach to resolving them. These emails and periodic meetings give an even broader group of watershed stal(eholders the opportunity to shape the future of Fountain Creel( and the communities that surround it. The ongoing deliberations of the Consensus Committee, the worl(ing groups, and the full Fountain Creel( Vision Tasl( Force are all focused on two l(ey tasl(s: 1) assessing the problems and needs in the watershed (including structural/non-structural, consumptive/non-consumptive, etc.), and 2) identifying specific, project- level solutions to meeting those needs. The needs assessment and the strategies and solutions for meeting them will be joined with the group's existing mission statement, vision statement, and goals statement to comprise the "Strategic Plan for the Fountain Creel( Watershed." The plan will leverage the existing studies that have been done on various aspects of the Fountain Creel( watershed into specific, on-the-ground solutions to the needs and problems in the watershed. It will be a consensus-based document, agreed to by 1