21 (4) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) has called for watershed restoration efforts to be combined with water supply projects, and this program can help meet that goal. The Colorado Watershed Protection Fund Tax Check-off Program has identified numerous watersheds where local watershed groups are working to address a variety of watershed issues. The Watershed Protection Fund did not have sufficient funds to award grants to all applicants in 2007. CWCB proposes to start with the list of unfunded applicants, with other watershed groups that have contacted CWCB about potential funding for watershed restoration planning activities, and with potential SWSI projects. The most qualified 4 or 5 projects will be selected and provided with the requested funds. Water Planning Relationship: This program is statewide in nature and is intended to assist in meeting stream restoration needs throughout Colorado. The specific candidate watersheds for this project will be derived from local applications and expressions of interest and from the list of potential SWSI projects. The purpose of each individual effort will explicitly address local watershed planning needs. CWCB will provide technical and administrative support to further local efforts (including SWSI efforts) that are already underway. To the fullest extent possible, these local efforts will emphasize watershed restoration needs. Recommendation: Staff gives a high recommendation for funding of this project because it is another high priority within the CWCB Flood Protection Section. Much success has already been achieved in the past few years on river restoration projects (Roaring Fork River, Rio Grande, and others) with similar projects. 4. NRCS SNOTEL Site Installations Beneficiary/Grantee/Contractor: USDA, Various Amount of Request: $45,000 Ranking: High Product Produced: Each proposed location would increase the data coverage for a particular basin to improve water supply forecasting. These sites either automate existing manually measured snow course or provide new data in previously unmeasured basins. New SNOTEL sites provide daily snowpack readings, whereas the manual sites provide data four times per winter. When new SNOTEL sites are installed in previously unmeasured locations, this new data is extremely valuable in helping to calibrate basin forecasts and assessments of snowpack and streamflow. Ne~v data measurement sites can help explain previously unknown hydrologic variability within the basin. Since 2004, CWCB has used this funding to cost share with local interests to convert manually measured sites to automated SNOTEL sites. The cost for one site is approximately $20,000; the cost share is 50:50 (C`VCB to Local). Of the $45,000 request, $30,000 will be used to cost share in the equipment for three sites and $15,000 will be used to hire field staff for the installation. Water Planning Relationship: SNOTEL data is integral to all CWCB program functions and provides the means to assess and forecast conditions for snowpack, streamflow, and reservoir storage within the given water year. This data source is featured in the Colorado Governor's Flood and Water Availability Task Forces. Recommendation: Staff gives a high recommendation for funding of this project because of the importance to water supply protection, flood protection and water resource managers. Additional automated snowpack instruments will provide real-time data to assist in water supply and flood forecasting. In addition, it matches effectively with local and federal resources. 15