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<br />distribution and sharing of the inventory data and final project documentation and <br />accounting. A new biocontrol release in the Dolores River watershed was recently <br />announced by the US BLM and Colorado Dept. of Agriculture. Biocontrol, using <br />specifically raised imported leaf eating beetles has the potential to significantly reduce <br />long term removal and maintenance costs. The new release will be closely monitored to <br />determine effectiveness and assess all environmental impacts. The Tamarisk Coalition <br />has been strongly encouraging the use of biocontrol where appropriate, and will be <br />incorporating this as one of several control options in the watershed plans being <br />developed this year. <br /> <br />Forest Restoration for Water Supply Protection: The Div. of Forestry has <br />issued an Request for Proposals (RFP) for the award of grants authorized by HB07-1130, <br />a one year grant program to promote community based approaches to forest <br />restoration that are protective of water supplies. Section 20 of the CWCB Projects Bill, <br />SB07-122, authorizes $1 million from the perpetual base account of the severance tax <br />trust fund for allocation to the Div. of Forestry for this program. <br /> <br />A primary motivation for this program is to lessen the impact of pine beetle infested <br />forests on watersheds in northern portions of the West Slope, but there are other aspects <br />of forest health that may also put sensitive and/or critical forested watersheds at risk. In <br />an effort to help the Div. of Forestry implement this program in ways that are consistent <br />with the Board's basic missions we retained SS Papadapolus to develop an "Action <br />Plan" for the grant program using $25,000 from the current year allocation of severance <br />tax operational account funds. We received the initial draft report on June 29, and after <br />internal review will be furnishing a copy to interested Board members and other DNR <br />agencies. <br /> <br />The "Action Plan" identifies Best Management Practices and criteria for evaluating high <br />priority watersheds in a targeted grant program addressing control of infestation, wild <br />fire prevention, fire mitigation, and reforestation and included consultation with major <br />water suppliers, local government groups, and the Div. of Forestry. <br /> <br />-ARKANSAS RIVER BASIN- <br /> <br />Colorado Springs Water Supply: For the first time since a drought began in 2002, <br />Colorado Springs Utilities is selling water it can't store in full reservoirs. The city has <br />suspended sales during the drought completely. <br /> <br />21 <br />