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<br />b. If approved, the study is slated to be done in the fall of2007. <br /> <br />9. Report from Rick Brown from the CWCB. <br /> <br />a. The legislature trimmed the $10 million annual funding for grants to $6 million in the 2007 <br />legislative session just ended. This will impact the money available in both the Statewide <br />and Basin Reserve Accounts. <br /> <br />b. Rick stated that the Non-Consumptive Needs Analysis (NCNA) was a priority of the CWCB. <br />He stated the CBR T may be ahead of the other basin roundtables on this issue. He is <br />concerned that a common methodology be developed for all roundtables. A meeting will be <br />held at the Gunnison Water Conference on May 24 to discuss developing this methodology. <br /> <br />10. Report from Eric Kuhn on the History of Colorado River legislation <br /> <br />a. Eric Kuhn summarized the history of the national and statewide legislation to allocate the <br />Colorado River in a 150 page report which was made available to CBRT participants. This is <br />a background for the upcoming joint meeting of the 4 Western Slope roundtables in <br />Montrose. Eric stated that the proper question to ask is how much risk developers are willing <br />to assume in going ahead with projects that may face water shortages in future low- <br />precipitation years. He said that you cannot answer this question without addressing how <br />Colorado will respond to a Compact Call by the Lower Basin States. <br /> <br />b. The legislature just appropriated $500,000 to the CWCB to study water availability on the <br />Colorado River. <br /> <br />11. Report from Dave Merritt regarding Salinity and Selenium in the Colorado River <br /> <br />a. Dave Menitt's report is based on a presentation prepared by of the Colorado River Water <br />Conservation District.; he can be reached at DKANZER@CRWCD.ORG <br /> <br />b. Mancos Shale is the source of selenium and saline; it is found throughout the Colorado River <br />Basin. Selenium and saline are highly mobile - just add water. Sources of the mobility <br />include irrigation, unlined ponds and other water features, and surface disturbances. <br /> <br />c. Selenium is measured in parts per billion (PPB) and salinity is measured in parts per million <br />(PPM). Selenium is aquatic life issue when concentrations exceed 4.6 PPB. Selenium has <br />not yet been determined to be a human health issue except in extremely high concentrations <br />as have been found some wells in southwest Colorado. Selenium may affect migratory birds <br />and endangered fish; it causes deformities and may move up the food chain. <br /> <br />d. There are no salinity instream standards. Salinity is a problem primarily for municipal <br />systems and irrigation uses, since it clogs pipes and hot water lines with mineral buildup and <br />can reduce crop production. If too much water is applied on irrigated land, salts are freed <br />up and enter the river when irrigation return flows enter rivers; if not enough water is applied <br />on irrigated land, salts migrate to the surface and harm agricultural production. The ideal <br />agricultural practice is to water just below the root zone. <br /> <br />e. Grand Valley spent $100 million to line inigation ditches to prevent saline from entering the <br />Colorado River in irrigation return flows. Saline concentrations below irrigated fields are <br />typically much higher. <br /> <br />L\CWCB Imaging\Caleb\Minutes\Colorado\2007\Minutes May 2007 CBRTdoc <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br />7/l< <br />