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-32- salinity control planning, design, and implementation. The Forum, working with Sen. Ken Salazar, has introduced federal legislation, as an amendment to the Senate version of the new Farm Bill that provides specific authority for the continued use of the Basin Funds for this purpose, creating a new Basin States Program. CWCB staff worked closely with CREDA and the Forum staff to allay concerns they had that the amendment might cause additional burdens on the Upper Basin Fund. SILVERTHORNE SECURES WATER RIGHTS FOR KAYAK PARK: The Town of Silverlhorne jumped over its largest hurdle to building a new kayak park this month when a district water judge signed off on the Town's water rights application. Water Division 5 Judge Daniel Petre signed the application on Oct. 7, two months after the last of 11 objectors to the application stipulated to a consent decree, canceling afive-day water court trial to settle the matter. The signature represented the last step in a nearly three-year process to gain the flows necessary to support a kayak park, said Sih~erthorne town manager Kevin Batchelder. The Town filed for a recreation in-channel diversion (RICD) in December 2004 that would secure flows of 100 cubic feet per second (cfs) into the Blue River from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. from May through September. Additionally, the water right would allow flows of 600 cfs during the Fourth of July, Labor Day and Memorial Day holidays, in part to facilitate commercial rafting trips on the Blue during those popular weekends. Denver Water owns the Dillon Reservoir and controls the annual release of water to Green Mountain Reservoir via the Blue River. At least 90 percent of the water must be available for the Town to make a call on its water rights, according to the decree. The Town of Silverthorne plans to construct a 1,000-foot long kayak course with three control structures in the section of river behind the Outlets at Silverthorne Blue Village. The Town hasn't earmarked any money for the approximately $500,000 project in next year's budget, but will likely do so when it plans its 2009-2010 budget next year. Eleven entities objected to Sih~erthorne's application to ensure a seat at the table during negotiations. Stipulations with the Town of Dillon and the City of Colorado Springs were worked out early in the process, while agreements with the Denver Water Board, several state agencies and the Colorado River Conservation District came in the last six months. The Town of Frisco began construction this fall on a vvhitewater feature for kayakers in Ten Mile Creek, and hopes to be finished by next spring. GOVERNOR IN HOT WATER OVER DROUGHT PLANS: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose recent speech to the United Nations boosted his image as a world leader in efforts to curb global warming, is taking heat fi-om critics who say his $9 billion plan to expand California's water supply conflicts with the state's goals for reducing carbon emissions. The governor wants to build two new dams and expand the reservoir of a third as a key element in his plan to meet future water needs of the state's growing population. But environmentalists say two of the projects would be net energy users and that the three of them together would add energy consumption to a water-delivery system that is already the state's largest consumer of electricity. There was an Oct. 16 deadline for putting the water bond package on the February ballot, and Flood Protection • Water Project Planning and Finance • Stream and Lake Protection Water Supply Protection • Conservation Plarming