18d ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 11/18/2007
• Description: CF Section – Referred Non-Reimbursable Investments - Tamarisk Coalition/CWCB Water Supply Protection Section - Tamarisk Control Cost-Sharing 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 . o~n cU. state. co.us
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
TO: Colorado Water Conservation Board Harris D. shennan
DNR Executive Director
FROM: Steve Miller, Water Supply Protection Section Dan NloAnliffe
Acting CWCB Director
DATE: November 6, 2007
RE: Agenda Item 18d. November 14-15, 2007 Board Meeting
Water Supply Planning and Finance Section -Referred Non-Reimbursable
Investments -Tamarisk Coalition/CWCB Water Supply Protection Section -
Tamarisk Control Cost-Sharing Grant Program
Introduction
This application requests that the Board move into "on-the-ground" tamarisk control efforts after 3 years
of mapping, inventorying, and planning. A little over one year ago Russ George, previous DNR Director,
was adamant that the state needed to 'stop talking and start doing', and the Board basically agreed with
him, although a shortage of excess funds in the severance tax program prevented movement at that time.
A brief history of the Board's involvement with this issue is provided below. It is hoped that significant
federal funds will be available to assist in this effort, but even if federal appropriations for the newly
authorized large demonstration effort do not materialize, Colorado can begin to move forward on its own.
Discussion
Tamarisk (also known as salt cedar) and Russian Olive are invasive (non-native) phreatophyte ("water
loving") vegetation that have massively displaced native riparian vegetation throughout most watersheds
in Colorado over the last 50 years. Negative impacts of tamarisk colonization include lost habitat values,
reduced public access to stream corridors, degradation of river channels and reduction in flood
conveyance capacity, and non-beneficial consumption of scarce water supplies.
Recognizing the severity of this problem in 2003 Gov. Bill Owens issued Executive Order D00203
directing "DNR, the Dept. of Agriculture, and any other state agency ... to take measures necessary to
eradicate tamarisk on public lands within 10 years ..." and to "submit a report ... outlining a viable plan to
achieve the eradication ... " In January 2004 DNR submitted the required plan to Governor's office and it
was accepted. The plan recommends a local watershed based approach to tamarisk control, with the state
providing a technical assistance and coordinating role. On Oct. 11, 2006 the President signed the "Salt
Cedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration Act", PL 109-341. House sponsors of H.R.2720
included Rep. Udall and Salazar, with Sen. Allard and Salazar sponsoring the companion bill, 5.177, in
the Senate. The Act directs federal agencies to assess the infestation and develop funding and
Water Supply Protection • Flood Protection • Stream & Lake Protection • Rater Supply Planning & Finance
Water Conservation & Drought Planning • Intrastate water Management & Development