06 ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 11/18/2007
• Description: IWMD Section - Alternative Agricultural Water Transfer Methods - Grant Program
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
wuu-. c~vcb. state. co. us
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Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
TO: Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
Harris D. Sherman
DNR Executive Director
FROM: Rick Brown, and Todd Doherty
Intrastate Water Mana ement and Plannin Dan McAnhtfe
g g Acting CWCB Director
DATE: November 14, 2007
SUBJECT: Agenda Item 6, November 14-15, 2007 Board Meeting
Interstate Water Management and Development -Alternative Agricultural
Water Transfer Methods-Grant Program
Background
The 2007 Legislature approved the Colorado Water Conservation (CWCB) to develop a
competitive grant program to advance various agricultural transfer methods as alternatives to
permanent dry-up in the Arkansas and South Platte Basins. The authorizing legislation directed
the CWCB to work in consultation with the basin water users in developing the grant program
design. Staff provided an initial draft of the grant program to the Board and water user steering
committee in July 2007. Since that time staff met with the steering committee in September and
November and has produced 4 working drafts of the grant program design.
The meetings with the steering committee have been very productive and they have illustrated
the complexities of developing the program. Overall there has been agreement and support for
the program and differing but very constructive perspectives regarding the design of the
program. The two primary issues have been: 1) the potential use of grant dollars for legal
assistance, and 2) ensuring that grant dollars produce transferable information that helps advance
"on-the-ground" programs/projects rather that simply promoting more research/studies.
Staff has produced a new redline version of the proposed grant program which is attached to this
memorandum. It should be noted that the steering committee has not yet provided feedback on
this draft.
Recommendations
This agenda item is for informational purposes and to receive feedback from the Board on the
basic direction and content of the Grant Program. Staff proposes bringing the final grant
program design to the January Board meeting for adoption.
Water Supply Protection • Fload Protection • Stream & Lake Protection • Rater Supply Planning & Finance
Water Conservation & Drought Planning • Intrastate Water Management & Development