IBCC Meeting Notes September 12

• Title: Meeting Notes
• Date: 9/12/2006
• Interbasin CC - Doc Type: Meeting Notes

D R A F T

Pre sentation from Rio Grande Roundtable

Ray Wright, Representative to the IBCC from the Rio Grande Roundtable, began the
presentation with a short introduction to the Rio Grande Basin. Mike Sullivan then talked about
water supply in the basin, explaining how compacts with downstream Rio Grande states affect
the San Luis Valley. He outlined the history of groundwater management in the valley, and
discussed current events related to aquifer use. Ray returned to present some of the
accomplishments of valley water users, including endangered species efforts and natural area
protection programs. Travis Smith provided further information on aging surface water
reservoirs in the valley, stating that more storage in the valley ma y help better manage scarce
water resources. Rio de la Vista discussed environmental protection and restoration in the Rio
Grande Basin, noting the importance of wetlands to valley ecosystems and exploring trends and
threats to wetland preservation. A co py of the power point slides used by Rio Grande Basin
representatives during their presentation is available on the IBCC website.

Report from the Public Education and Outreach Working Group

Rita Crumpton and Mary Lou Smith reported on the discussion at Monday evening’s meeting of
the Public Education and Outreach Working Group . They asked the IBCC to approve the
addition of two members to the working group – Jeff Crane and Reagan Waskom – and received
approval from the committee. Mary Lou outlined an approach to education put together by the
working group that focuses on the IBCC website, existing water education groups, and
roundtable’s own educational efforts. The working group recommends using funds recently
appropriated by the legislature to build a website dedicated to the IBCC process that will be
somehow separated from DNR’s website, along with a process for frequently updating the site.
In addition, the working group discussed asking the Colorado Water Resources Research Center
to update a lis t of water organizations in the state created previously. The group would like to
function as a clearinghouse for groups that propose to present to the roundtables , and facilitate
the flow of educational information as needed. The working group plans to have a complete
proposal outlining these ideas and others for review by IBCC members at the November
meeting.

Report to the Legislature

Eric Hecox presented a draft outline of the report due from the IBCC to the Legislature by
st
October 31 . The group discussed the proposal to include short reports from each basin
roundtable, and agreed to have the Department of Natural Resources, in conjunction with the
facilitation team and other interested parties, present a draft for discuss at the next IBCC meeting
th
(October 18 ).

The group offered the following comments:
?

The report should include proposed activities for the IBCC in 2007, and the IBCC should
discuss this topic further at a future meeting.
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