Colorado - Roaring Fork Watershed Plan Phase II_Re-submittal Water Activity Summary

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yet reviewed the Phase 1 final report and this created some difficulties for staff to reach conclusions regarding the review of this Phase 2 grant application. The Board will also recall that Phase 2 study application was reviewed by the Board in March 2008 and was denied funding based on staff's recommendation which is summarized below. Staff Recommendation from March 2008 Staff has very much enjoyed working with the applicant on the first WSRA grant and appreciates the challenges and opportunities that the Roaring Fork planning effort represents. Staff very much supports the process of identifying and addressing consumptive and non-consumptive needs and projects in the Roaring Fork Watershed. In staff s view the challenge is doing this in an inclusive and balanced manner. As currently written, based on the issues identified in the discussion and issues and additional needs section, and given the fact the CWCB has not been provided with a deliverable from the Phase 1 grant; staff does not recommend approval of the Roaring Fork Watershed Plan Phase II at this time. Staff encourages the applicant to address the issues identified in this Water Activity Summary Sheet and consider resubmitting the application once the issues are addressed and the report from the Phase I grant is completed and provided to CWCB. The applicant has redrafted the grant application to address staff's concerns in regard to conformance with Section 37-75-102 Colorado Revised Statues (CRS) (the water rights protection section that was included in House Bill OS-1177). The applicant's redrafted language in the current application is provided below Phase I of the Roaring Fork Watershed Plarr ~~~as deemed to comply ~~~ith Section 37-7~-103 Colorado Revised Statutes irr the corn~se of being cn~~arded firr~rdirrg from the Water Supply Reserve Account in 2006-2007. The second phase of the Watershed Plan differs from Phase I in that it develops and prioritizes reconmrendations for action which could ir~rclzrde evahration of flow and f7o~~~ needs. To ensure corrsistencv ~~~ith Section 37-7~-102 the Watershed Plan 's' recommendations ~a~ill take into account the need to ensure protection of existing and conditional water and proper°ty rights ~~~hile addressing firtrrre consumptive acrd non-consumptive needs. Phase II ~~~ill consist of the establishment ofplarrnirrggoals and objectives through a public process, a determination of basin- ~~~ide ~~~ater needs (both ~~~itlrin the basin and for out of basin users and ~~~ater• rights holders) and available supplies, and recommendations intended to manage ~~~ater resources to meet the ~a~ater supply needs of all ~~~ater rights holders and to maximize the benefits to the public at large. TGre recommendations ofthe Plan ~~~ill be developed through a collaborative, consensus-based process of in basin and out of basin interests ~~~ho rely on resorn•ces ~~~ithin the ~~~atershed. All recommended aetrOrlS` 11~r1~ r'eCOgnlze the Vahdrty Of exrstrrlg 11~ater' r'lghts, the neCG'ssltV t0 COr1 fOr'17r 11~rth exrstrrlg ~~~ater Icnv, and the need to maintain crn•rent project yields acrd collaboratively address frrttrre needs. Tire Watershed Plan is intended to provide data to support irrfornred discussion about how best to conserve and enhance ~~~ater resorrr°ces and to meet both consurrrptive and rron-cons~mrptive needs. That discussion ~~~i11 yield a variety of strategies, tools and methods for inrpleruentirrg the plan. At this point in the process, ~~~e do not think it appropriate to impose limitations on ~~~hat those strategies, etc., may include but l~~e expect them to ra~rge from support for existing programs to suggestions for ne~~~ legislation, consistent ~~~ith the liruitatiorrs described here and belo~~~. Phase II of the Watershed Plan 1~~ill emphasize the importance ofparrnerships, collaboration, nndti prrr~ose projects and cooperation in implementing the goals of the Watershed Plarr. The irrfornration and tools developed 7