Work Plan 2007 - Interbasin Compact Process.do

• Title: Work Plan 2007 - Interbasin Compact Process
• IBCC - Doc Type: Program Planning, Budget & Contracts

roundtable s back to their agency. In their capacity of bringing information to the
roundtables, the liaisons have played an important role in the roundtable’s education and
needs assessment efforts. As each roundtable’s Tracking Matrix is developed, there may
be o pportunities for different agencies to assist in meeting the roundtable’s information
needs. A few examples include:
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The Colorado Geological Survey has and will continue to play a key role in
assisting roundtables with groundwater and energy issues;
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The D ivision of Water Resources has and will continue to assist the roundtables
with information on interstate compacts and water administration;
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The Division of Wildlife has and will continue to provide data and assistance to
roundtables developing their non - c onsumptive needs assessment;
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The Bureau of Reclamation has and will continue to provide information on their
projects and programs; and
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The BLM and the Forest Service have and will continue to provide information
and assistance relevant to their land manag ement responsibilities.

Colorado’s research and academic community is also assisting the roundtables. Colorado
State University Extension has provided a liaison to each basin roundtable . The liaison
help the Roundtables facilitate discussions; aid in ed ucational processes; provide links
between the university, roundtables, and Colorado’s citizens; and help make available the
research, information and expertise provided by CSU. CSU’s Colorado Institute of
Public Policy (CIPP) has provided research to the roundtables on beliefs and values on
water and organized a conference on the role Colorado’s research, academic, and higher
education community can play. In 2007 we will pursue opportunities for roundtable
collaboration with academic and research institu tions. These may include inviting input
from Colorado’s academic and research institutions on the roundtables’ Tracking Matrix;
and/or identifying opportunities to coordinate research institutions’ research agendas with
the roundtables’ information needs.

Potential Solutions
The third activity roundtables will concentrate on in the coming year will be identifying,
debating, and agreeing on potential solutions to meet their water challenges. As
collaborative solutions emerge from the Interbasin Compact P rocess the Water Supply
Reserve Account (Account) will be an important vehicle for the implementation of those
solutions.

In 2006, to help address Colorado’s future water needs, the Colorado General Assembly
passed Senate Bill 06 - 179 which establishes t he Water Supply Reserve Account . The
Account provides money for grants and loans to complete water activities. Water
activities are broadly defined and include water supply and environmental projects and/or
studies. Requests for monies from the Account must be approved by the r oundtables .
Once approved by the Basin Roundtable the request is forwarded to the Colorado Water
Conservation Board (CWCB) to evaluate and make decisions regarding funding. Further
information on this program is available at:
http://cwcb.state.co.us/IWMD/grantsLoansIndex.htm .

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