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<br />feeding operations. Gary noted that he heard the Congressman speak earlier in the <br />summer at a conference in Steamboat Springs. <br /> <br />Dan McAuliffe discussed several emerging issues impacting Chatfield, including O&M <br />and the Chatfield seismic study. Tom Browning commented on the cost of storage issue. <br /> <br />Stan Sloss concluded the meeting noting that this is an easy project to support. <br /> <br />3:15 p.rn. Meeting: Office of Rep. Marilyn Musgrave <br />Nate Bowen, Legislative Assistant <br />Tom Browning, Frank Eckhardt, Gary Herman, Greg Hertzke, David Howlett, Dan <br />McAuliffe, Rick McLoud, Vaughn McWilliams, Marge Price, Mark Shively, Jeff <br />Shoemaker, Chatfield Reservoir Reallocation Coalition <br /> <br />Jeff Shoemaker opened the discussion with a short background on Chatfield and with <br />self-introductions. Jeff noted the goal of the Chatfield Reservoir Reallocation effort is to <br />secure approval from the Corps to store an additional 20,600 acre feet of wet water, <br />which would be split between upstream and downstream water users with instream users <br />receiving environmental benefits from increased flows in the river. <br /> <br />Frank Eckhardt opened up the discussion. He noted of the 440 wells that were shut off <br />last year 70 were Western Mutual Ditch Company wells. The Chatfield Reallocation <br />would help alleviate this situation. As per 1864 and 1871 decrees, a lot of families rely <br />on the river. He highlighted House and Senate action on their respective FY08 Energy <br />and Water Appropriations bills. The House bill marked up $200,000 for the Chatfield <br />FR/EIS and the Senate bill contained a $273,000 earmark for the Chatfield FR/EIS. <br />Frank thanked Representative Musgrave for her help and support in securing the House <br />earmark. It is expected that the FY09 Chatfield FR/EIS ask will be for $400,000. <br /> <br />Tom Browning stated that Chatfield serves as a "storage bucket" for water. Operational <br />changes can accommodate additional water in the bucket. Tom noted other emerging <br />issues. With regard to O&M, the Corps is agreeable to non-federal interests taking over <br />the lead on the environmental and recreational mitigation issues, but we have not <br />received the final word on this. The Corps is continuing to work on a cost break with <br />regard to the cost of storage. There may be a small break on this. The Corps has begun <br />Phase 1 of the Chatfield seismic study. <br /> <br />Dan McAuliffe commented that it is expected that the preliminary EIS draft will be ready <br />in the next several weeks. He also noted that Governor Ritter's South Platte River Task <br />Force has recommended Chatfield Reservoir Reallocation as its top priority. <br /> <br />Jeff Shoemaker commented that the Chatfield Coalition is a model of how to get this type <br />of proj ect done. <br /> <br />Nate Bowen closed the meeting, noting that the project is not an enlargement of the <br />reservoir rather a reallocation of storage space. <br /> <br />5 <br />