25d ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 11/18/2007
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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AGRICULTURE WATER EFFICIENCY PAPER: Irrigated agriculture uses over 80 percent of the
available sut~ace and ground water in Colorado, leading to a public perception that agricultural water
conservation can easily provide additional water supplies to meet growing demands for urban, industrial,
recreation and environmental water needs in Colorado. It has been stated that it would only take a transfer
of approximately 5% of agricultural use to meet M&I needs through 2030. The media and certain interest
groups often report that Colorado's future water supply needs can be met with agricultural efficiency and
water conservation measures. While there are certainly opportunities to gain additional water supplies
through increased agricultural water consen~ation, these opportunities are limited and will not produce as
much water as perceived by some. The Board will recall that efforts to address this issue as part of SWSI
II was hatnpered by limited participation from the agricultural community. Because of the importance of
this issue, staff has continued to do outreach with agricultural interest and has met with members of the
Colorado Agricultural Alliance (Alliance).
To help shed some light on some of the opportunities and constraints associated with agricultural water
conservation, CWCB, Colorado Water Resources Research Institute and CDM Staff are collaborating on
a paper and working with the Alliance to examine the potential for real increases in available water from
agricultural conser~~ation and efficiency that can be accomplished without impairing existing supplies or
water rights. The paper's intended audience includes the Legislature, policy makers, media and the
general public. The paper is expected to be finalized and presented at the 2007 Ag Water Summit at the
Jefferson County Fairgrounds on December 13-14`x'.
UPDATE ON STATEWIDE EDUCATION TASK FORCE: On October 29, 2007, CWCB staff
convened a meeting of a small working group to kick off the Statewide Water Education Task Force
(WETF) discussed at the last CWCB Board meeting in September 2007. In attendance were
representatives from the Colorado Foundation for Water Education, the Colorado Watershed Network, the
Colorado Water Resources Research Institute, the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education, and
the Colorado Water Congress. The purpose of the meeting was to establish a planning committee for the
WETF and develop consensus on a course of action to accomplish the goals of this initiative. Among
items discussed were the basis and purpose of the WETF; review and finalize the Project Scope of Work;
review survey questions that will be sent out to water education stakeholders around the State; compile
the WETF candidate list; review the focus group concept that will be implemented to determine the water
education gaps around the State. The first meeting of the Water Education Task Force will be Thursday,
November 29, 2007.
TAPIARISK CONTROL UPDATE: Under two separate agenda items at this meeting the Board will
be asked to consider creation of a $1 million invasives control grant program that would be managed in
cooperation with the Tamarisk Coalition. The Tamarisk Coalition held its bi-annual symposium in
Grand Junction on October 24-26. Symposium information can be obtained at the following link:
http:/Iw-ww.coopext.colostate.edu/TRA/Special/2007Tatnariskl2007Tamarisk.htm
We learned from the Governor's Office that he will endorse the Colorado Headwaters Invasives
Partnership (CHIP) Plan for controlling tamarisk and Russian Olive in the Colorado River Basin as
described in my September report.
In addition to these statewide tamarisk control activities we have finalized our discussion with the
Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of California regarding a seven basin state effort to use tamarisk
control specifically as a means of augmenting Colorado River water supplies. This effort is a part of
commitments to find additional water supplies made during negotiations of long term shortage criteria for
the Upper and Lower basin. We will be entering into an agreement that endorses a joint work plan and
cooperative efforts to secure federal funding and technical assistance pursuant to existing authority in
PL109-341, "The Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration Act". The agreement is consistent
Flood Protection • Water Project Planning and Finance • Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection • Conservation Plarming