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unanimously passed H.R. 1462, the Platte River Recovery Implementation Authorization Act, out of the <br />Committee on January 30, 2008. <br />The bill is awaiting action by the full Senate before it will have to return to the House of Representatives <br />for their concurrence. The CWCB sends its thanks to Senators Salazar and Allard for their continued <br />support of this important legislation. <br />PLATTE RIVER PROGRAM -The Governance Committee ("G.C.") continues to make progress in <br />implementing this Program. The G.C. has chosen several proposals to begin implementation of the Platte <br />Program. Three of these proposals awarded were for insurance, whooping crane monitoring, and for a <br />stage change study. The G.C. met in Kearney on February 12-13, 2008 and the next meeting is set for <br />April 8-9, 2008 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Additional Requests for Proposal will continue to be issued. <br />The G.C. has postponed the test of a pulse flow with Environmental Account water from Lake <br />McConaughy until we can finalize an agreement between the Program and the Central and Nebraska <br />power districts and finalize the insurance policy. In addition, the Adaptive Management Work Group, the <br />Land Advisory Committee, the Finance Committee, the Technical Advisory Committee, and several <br />various ad hoc committees met in February and March to continue with program implementation. <br />SOUTHWESTERN RIVER BASINS <br />DOLORES RIVER DIALOGUE -The full Dolores River Dialogue group met on February 27, <br />2008. Topics of discussion included (1) objectives for the 2008 McPhee Reservoir spill; (2) objectives <br />for 2008 science activity and potential in-channel restoration project, which include selecting an area for <br />cross section sun~ey work in Reach 1 above Bradfield Bridge to measure responses to spill volumes and <br />in-channel work, increased fish sampling, studying factors affecting native fish populations, and <br />increasing modeling capabilities including aerial photography, on the ground work and the use of GIS; (3) <br />base flow enhancement; and (4) Lower Dolores Corridor Management Planning. During March, the <br />USBR and the Dolores WCD are basing releases from McPhee Resetti~oir on the natural hydrograph <br />(inflow), averaging a release of approximately 275 cfs. Releases will increase gradually with the goal of <br />assisting in native fish species spawning. The DRD intends to participate with the USFS, BLM and other <br />stakeholders in updating the Lower Dolores Corridor Management Plan, which was developed in 1990. <br />SAN JUAN RIVER RECOVERY IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM COORDINATION <br />COAIAIITTEE (CC) MEETING -The CC met in Farmington, NM on February 22, 2008. The <br />primary purpose was twofold. First, the CC needed to try and reach some agreements on how the San <br />Juan River Hydrology Model was going to be used in the Program and in Section 7 Consultations. The <br />CC also tried to develop a better understanding of the differences between New Mexico's depletion <br />projections and Colorado's. While progress was made on the issues, no resolutions were reached. All <br />parties will continue to work on these matters. Secondly, the CC considered and approved some updates <br />to the Long Range Plan. Finally, the CC received updates on Navajo Reservoir operations given the well <br />above average snowpack, the small mouth bass virus that is affecting the Uvalde hatchery, and the <br />Recovery Program reauthorization legislation. The next CC meeting will be May 5-6 during which the <br />CC will receive progress reports on all the work of the Recovery Program this past year and discuss what <br />it means for future research and monitoring. <br />~26~ <br />