North Platte Dec19minutes

• Basin Roundtable: North Platte
• Title: Minutes
• Date: 12/19/2006
• Basin Roundtables - Doc Type: Minutes

North Platte Basin Roundtable Meeting 12-19-06

. SPWRAP partners with the State of Colorado to deliver CO commitments to PRRlP.
. Membership in SPWRAP is voluntary and to join the organization, dues must be paid.
There are several membership types including Municipal, Ag, Industrial, Water
Conservancy District, and Misc. It was noted that municipal users currently contribute
99% with ag users comprising the other 1 %.
. Membership cost in SPWRAP is based on a formula that takes into account irrigated
acreage. An estimate membership cost for the Jackson County Water Conservancy
District would be approximately $300.00 per year to cover District activities. The
District could also join at a different formula rate that would cover all water users which
would require the District to pay an estimated membership fee of approximately
$3000.00 per year. Alan stated he would discuss the membership costs for the Jackson
County Water Conservancy District with the SPWRAP board and get back to us after the
next SPWRAP meeting.
. Entities or individuals seriously considering joining SPWRAP should do so by April 1,
2007. Members joining after that date will have to pay back dues retro-active to April 1,
2007.
. SPWRAP will assist members seeking federal permits such as Section 404 permits
(issued by Army Corps of Engineers for dredge and fill) which are the most likely
activity to raise threatened and endangered species concerns. There is a possibility that in
the future, federal agricultural assistance programs could someday trigger concerns as
well.
. SPWRAP can offer streamlined ESA compliance with predictable outcomes. However,
if members are working through SPWRAP in a negotiation, they are allowed to pull out
of the process at any time.
. SPWRAP gets full funding from the Species Conservation Trust Fund each year.
. SPWRAP will have a seat on the PRRlP Governance Committee.

Benefits to SPWRAP membership reiterated are that their program:
. Reduces costs for individuals and the State of Colorado.
. Facilitates contribution of money instead of water.
. Provides offsetting measures to avoid jeopardy to target T &E species.
. Avoids "take" of target species for all water activities under PRRlP.
. Streamlines the procedure for ESA compliance.

Letter to CWCB
As decided in the last meeting, a letter was written and presented by Rick Wyatt expressing the
North Platte Basin Roundtable support of the Jackson County Water Conservation District
opposition to in stream flows in Jackson County below any existing diversions. Ty Wattenberg
made motion for members to sign and send the letter as written. Sandy Knox seconded the
motion. Motion passed.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 p.m.

Kent Crowder will check availability (?fFS CO/?ference Room and not[fy members (?fthe next
meeting date.

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