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- 2 - allows for comparison of projects without involving costs. We are looking at a project credit for environmental benefits rather than a cash appropriation from the federal government. . Instream/Downstream Funding - The Instream/Downstream Group pursuit of ecosystem restoration is paid by Aurora, Brighton, Central WCD, and Western Mutual Ditch for about 80% of the total. The Greenway Foundation, Metro Waste Water, City & County of Denver, and Denver Water are the other 20%. o Currently through the project there is no mechanism to cost share with the Corps for ecosystem restoration activities. o Great Western and Capitol Representatives have budgets through this calendar year o Pursuing Ecosystem Restoration may not be an absolute "yes" or "no" answer and then the group will need to determine whether to plow ahead or not. . Participant Question: Can some of this effort be used by Tetra Tech to benefit the Chatfield reallocation project? An official determination has not yet been made as to whether all interested parties agree to and accept the concept of merging the watery supply reallocation effort (e.g. the EIS/FR currently underway) and the ecosystem restoration effort. Tom mentioned to the group that several members of the CWCB staff are becoming increasingly nervous and uncomfortable with possible delays and impacts resulting from a merged condition of the two parallel studies. In addition, an attempt to amend the current conctract (Feasibility Cost Share Agreement) between the CWCB and the Corps could be time consuming and could induce project delays. Tom believes that additional dialogue needs to take place in the very near future to formulate a workable strategy that will ensure the success of the original water supply reallocation process without harming the ecosystem restoration process, and vice versa. . The good part of the ecosystem restoration is that it is not constrained at this time by NEP A, but the team is going through plan formulation process similar to what the Corps would do. . Another question revolves around how to use water rights when committing to these strategic releases. . Coordination Meeting - The Greenway Foundation will meet October 10th in Omaha with Marty, Dave Brandon, and others. They have invited the CWCB to participate. They will discuss the current FCSA, the water supply effort, the ecosystem restoration effort, and revised timelines and cost estimates. Merging the two efforts is a policy matter and getting that answer now is better than later. Flood control, ecosystem, and navigation are the Corps main missions and the future funding of the EIS will likely need to be tied in some way to one or more of these three Corps mISSIOns. . CWCB funding - Tom went before the CWCB Board and requested an additional $400K for the Chatfield Reallocation Project; the Board approved the request and it will become part of the CWCB Construction Fund Bill if later approved by the General Assembly. Funds would be available July 1,2007. The additional CWCB funds will assist greatly in keeping the project moving forward. These funds can be used to match against Water User funds and/or federal funds as needed. o There still is $114K water user funds left for this year, and an invoice was recently approved by the CWCB for payment to the Corps. o The focus of the CWCB is still for advocating the original water supply component of the study. Water supply is the underpinning goal; environmental restoration would be an added plus. There are recognized benefits to ecosystem restoration and timed release patterns, and the CWCB will objectively support the overall project. Flood Protection . Water Project Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning