BOARD0215 ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 5/20/2002
• Description: OWCDP Section - Emergency Drought Responce
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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AGRICULTURE
Chair, Bob McLavey, Colorado Department of Agriculture

· Request that the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture make lands enrolled in the
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) available to farmers and ranchers for grazing
and hay production. This would make additional forage available at a critical time.

ENERGY
Chair, Joe Lambert, Governor's Office of Energy Management & Conservation

· With local governments and fire districts, develop an inventory of critical assets,
including water, that need to be maintained during a fire response. Request that the
Department of Local Affairs and the Department of Public Safety work with
Colorado Counties, Inc. and the Colorado Municipal League develop this inventory.

· Increase the criminal penalties for arson during an established drought emergency.
This is important in many areas of the state, but especially where power transmission
lines, substations and other critical infrastructure are involved.

· Increase liability for negligence in causing a wildfire during a drought emergency.

· Through the Office of Energy Management and Conservation and the Public Utilities
Commission, coordinate with railroads and electric utilities to assure that there are
adequate fire prevention plans for their corridors.

HEALTH
Chair, David Holm, Water Quality Control Division, C.D.P.H.&E

· The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment should, as needed,
expand existing grant and loan programs to assist public water systems in meeting
emergency drinking water requirements, as well as the need for temporary water
supplies and adequate treatment systems.

· The Colorado Water Conservation Board and the Department of Local Affairs should
coordinate with all water providers to assure that they have adequate drought plans
and mitigation measures for their systems and customers.

· Recommend that the General Assembly consider amending current statute to require
all public water systems to develop drought contingency water supply plans for
review and approval by the state by no later than July 1, 2003 for the largest systems
and by no later than July 1,2005 for the smallest public water systems.

· The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment should verify that
adequate programs are in place to monitor public drinking water systems, wastewater
treatment systems and bodies of recreational water for contamination. This includes