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<br />possible for the Corps to reprogram some funding to accelerate the seismic study in a <br />timely fashion, so as to avoid the issuance of a conditional Record of Decision (ROD). <br /> <br />The issue of agriculture's use of the water will be treated as a qualitative analysis within <br />CWCB. The "lease" with the Corps for Chatfield will be for M&I use, the "best & <br />highest use" of that water. Chain of command issues between the Headquarters and <br />District levels were clarified on multiple points, so as to obtain better understanding of <br />"who's on first". <br /> <br />The bottom line is this meeting was extremely helpful in plotting the most direct course <br />to wet water at Chatfield. It may now be possible to productively consider several <br />courses of endeavor simultaneously, rather than sequentially, perhaps shaving a couple <br />years off the time to wet water. The meeting affirmed the Corps is engaged in the <br />process, and in procuring the Federal share of funding to complete the EIS, and to move <br />beyond the FR/EIS phase to write contracts and get to wet water. The Corps <br />representatives were noticeably impressed that local entities are not just goofing around, <br />but actually making preparations to write checks for reallocation. That being said, the <br />Federal, State, and local entities are all going to have to follow through with action to <br />support and fulfill these good words. Thanks to Tom Browning and Tracy Bouvette for <br />their presentations to the Corps staff. There is a great deal of jargon and "Corps speak" <br />going on (NED, ITR, AFB, "read ahead"). Tracy is quite adept at navigating that jungle. <br />Tom is very well spoken, consistent in his message of the commitment of the State of <br />Colorado to this project. This meeting could not have gone any better. If there is a <br />Chatfield/So Platte tour next summer, we need to make sure John Micik is sitting on that <br />bus. <br /> <br />Sen. Salazar's Staff <br />The contingent met with Brendan McGuire. (Steve Black's hair was likely on fire, in as <br />much as Senate Appropriations was doing the mark-up on Interior, so Steve was unable <br />to meet with us this time.) The meeting lasted thirty minutes. We expressed our <br />appreciation for support ofFY'07 funding, support for the FY'08 ask of $400k, and for <br />the letters of support the Senator has signed. This was an overview update, and did not <br />go into great depth. Brendan said they appreciated the update, and looked forward to <br />continuing to support the matter. (He was well acquainted with Jim Reasoner, and how <br />Chatfield could address some of the issues faced by the farmers in the lower S. Platte. <br />Sen. Salazar worked on the issue for years when he was Attorney General.) This meeting <br />was a green light. <br /> <br />Colorado Con2ressional Staff <br />In as much as the staff members now know the basics of Chatfield Reallocation, on this <br />trip the staff members were asked to come together for one meeting. Attendees included <br />Mac Zimmerman (Mr. Tancredo), Steve Plevniak (Ms. DeGette), Michael Spira (Mr. <br />Perlmutter). The meeting lasted thirty minutes. We expressed our appreciation for <br />support ofFY'07 funding, support for the FY'08 "ask" of $400k, and for the letters of <br />support the Congressmen have signed. This was an overview update, and did not go into <br />great depth. We were able to give a broad update on what appears to be next steps over <br />