17h

• Board Meeting Date: 11/18/2007
• Description: CF Section – Bundled Non-Reimbursable Investments - Evaluate Effects of Mountain Pine Beetle Infestation on Water Supply
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF (:~LORADO
•
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us
MEMORANDUM ~Bitl Ritter, )r.
Governor
TO: Colorado Water Conservation Board -Finance Committee Harris D. Sherman
Executive Director
FROM: Steve Miller, Water Supply Protection Program
Dan McAuliffe
CWCB Acting Director
DATE: September 6, 2007
RE: Non-Reimbursable Investments -Evaluate Effects of Mountain Pine
Beetle Infestation on Water Supply
Introduction
A status report on mountain pine beetle restoration work authorized by HB07-1130 and funded in last
year's construction fund bill will be provided to Board members under agenda item 22 during the
September .Grand Junction meeting. In addition the Colorado State Forest Service ("USFS") has
separately submitted anon-reimbursable funding request for an additional $4 million to continue such
restoration work. This application from the U.S. Geologic Survey proposes collecting and evaluating data
on the hydrologic impacts of infested forests in terms of runoff forecasting, to better determine the water
~,, supply benefits of restoring forests and to allow water supply providers to make better estimates of yields
from impaired forested watersheds. The evaluation would compliment other water quality work being
done by the USGS on these beetle damaged water sheds.
Discussion
As preparation for CWCB funding of HB07-1130 staff retained an ecological consultant to analyze water
supply issues related to the pine beetle infestation. SS Papadopulos prepared an "Action Plan" to help
target forest restoration activities, see agenda item 22. Their work indicates a wide divergence of
hydrologic impacts related to this issue, and a significant amount of site specificness reported in the
published literature. With over $1 million in Board expenditures this year for water supply protection
related to forest health it is appropriate to have a scientific component to monitor and determine actual
water supply impacts. It is not entirely clear that the study proposed in the application is the best way to
achieve that goal. C>ne concern is that the proposed work may be duplicative of a similar US Forest
Service ("USFS") study taking place on the Fraser Experimental Forest. Further discussion with the
USGS and USFS could resolve this concern, or perhaps lead to a modification of the proposed work
to better meet the need for a scientific assessment of hydrologic effects in pine damaged forests.
Statewide Interest
The findings of this study would apply to all areas of the state experiencing forest health issues that
result in large volumes of tree die-off, loss of canopy, and standing dead timber.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends the Board request that the General Assembly authorize up to $65,000 from the
Construction Fund to be appropriated to the CWCB for the USGS to study Evaluate Effects of
~, Mountain Pine Beetle Infestation on Water Supply, or a similar hydrologic investigation to be developed
in consultation with the USGS, CSFS, and USFS. CWCB staff will be available to answer questions
about this proposal.
Flood Protection • Water Supply Planning and Finance • Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection • Conservation and Drought Planning