20c

• Board Meeting Date: 1/23/2008
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River - 7-Basin States MOU & Amendment Regarding Joint Tamarisk Control Efforts
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
wuu . o~n cU. state. co.us
TO: Colorado Water Conservation Board
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
FROM: Steve Miller, Water Supply Protection Section
H:uris D. Sherman
DATE• January 14, 2008 DNR Executive Director
Jennifer L. GimUel
RE: Agenda Item 20.c January 22-23, 2008 Board Meeting cwcB Director
Water Supply Protection Section -Colorado River Dan McAuliffe
7-Basin States MOU & Amendment Regarding Joint Tamarisk eweB Deputy Director
Control Efforts
Introduction:
This item is to obtain the Board's authorization to enter into several agreements for joint, multi-state
tamarisk control activities in the Colorado River Basin:
1. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ("MOU") AMONG THE ... [7 Basin States] ... TO
COORDINATE ACTIVITIES FOR TAMARISK MANAGEMENT IN THE COLORADO RIVER
BASIN. Nov. 13, 2007 DRAFT
2. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ... TAMARISK MANAGEMENT IN THE
COLORADO RNER BASIN, AMENDMENT 1 Colorado River Basin Tamarisk Assessment. DRAFT
12/4/07
Copies of current drafts of the proposed agreements are attached.
Discussion:
The primary purpose of the MOU is to meet an obligation the seven Colorado River Basin States imposed
on themselves during development of the Lower Basin Shortage Guidelines, namely to take actions
designed to augment the supply of water available for use in the Colorado River System. In the MOU the
states are agreeing to use their best efforts to coordinate tamarisk control efforts across state lines and
support appropriate federal activities and funding for control projects that can potentially enhance Basin
water supplies. In addition the MOU recognizes the need for more scientific research to determine
appropriate Basin specific control and revegetation strategies and the actual hydrologic benefits that may
be achieved from control projects. Amendment 1 is a start to meet those research needs through acost-
shared study likely to be conducted by the Tamarisk Coalition. Colorado will receive in-kind credit for
the planning and inventory work the CWCB has already funded and will not have to obligate any funds
for Amendment 1 activities. Staff can provide a section by section review of the agreements if requested
during the meeting.
Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the Board authorize the Director to execute the two above referenced agreements
when finalized, provided they do not change in substantive content from the drafts reviewed with the
Board on January 23, 2007, and further provided that:
1. no state funds are obligated
2. Attorney General and/or controller approve or waive review
Water Supply Protection • watershed Protection & Fluud blitigatiun • Stream & Lake Protection • Water Supply Planning & Finance
Water Conservation & Drought Planning • Intrastate ~F'ater Management & Development