27 ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 1/23/2008
• Description: Director's Report - CWCB Director
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

FEDERAL AND INTERSTATE
DITCH BILL UPDATE: As part of our continuing effort to keep you informed of the U.S. Forest
Service's progress on the issuance of Ditch Bill Easements and related issues, Attachment 27d-3 was
provided by Michele O'Connell, USFS. If you have questions regarding this information, please contact
Michele O'Connell at:
Michele O'Connell
USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region
Group Leader Lands Special Uses
[phone], FAX [phone]
mmoconnell(c~fs.fed.us
In late October, in response to concerns expressed by the Southwestern Water Conservation District about
the potential imposition of bypass flows in connection with some pending Ditch Bill Easements on the
San Juan Forest, Harris Sherman, DNR Executive Director, sent a letter to Rick Cables, Regional
Forester, requesting initiation of consultation between the USFS and the DNR under the April 16, 2004,
MOU between the DNR, CWCB and USFS to explore ways to find a mutually acceptable resolution of
this matter. On December 14, 2007, Rick Cables sent a response indicating that the USFS is willing to
meet to discuss these issues and is "committed to adhering to the spirit and intent of our 2004 MOU."
EPA WATERSENSE UPDATE: The OWCDP section participated in a conference call with the
EPA regarding a kickoff event for the WaterSense Denver Model Community on December 18. The
kickoff event is tentatively scheduled in March highlighting WaterSense high-efficiency toilets. Further
plans will be in February. The EPA WaterSense team plans to introduce WaterSense products into the
Denver market mid to late January.
The focus of WaterSense is to help Americans use water more efficiently and reduce future water and
wastewater infrastructure costs. EPA will market WaterSense labeled products nationwide similar to the
EnergyStar label currently sold in stores. The EPA will also provide support with water efficiency
public outreach campaigns. The CWCB became a Promotional Partner with the WaterSense Program in
November 2007. As a Promotional Partner, the CWCB will help the EPA to promote the WaterSense
labeled products and programs, feature the WaterSense logo on the CWCB website and in other
promotional materials, be included on a list of participating partners on the WaterSense website &
provide the EPA with statewide water data.
WYO., U.S. V~'ILDLIFE AGENCIES SIGN AGREEMENT: Wyoming Governor Dave
Freudenthal has engineered an agreement between the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service that will give the state more say in Wyoming-centric wildlife issues.
Among other items, the agreement will allow more collaboration in decisions relating to the listing and
delisting of animals under the Endangered Species Act. The agreement could have direct impact on the
numbers of wolves, sage grouse, grizzly bears and the Preble's meadow jumping mouse in the state.
CWCB & NEW MEXICO INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION CLOUD SEEDING
AGREEMENT: An agreement was executed on November 27, 2007, between Colorado and New
Mexico that is similar to the cloud seeding agreement between the State of Colorado and the seven
Colorado Rivet- basins states. The provisions of developing system water that is non-assignable to any one
entity were agreed to in the base agreement. Yearly exhibits can be appended to the base agreement if
funding is available. The 2008 exhibit will bring $42,000 to Colorado from the NMISC through CWCB
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