Laserfiche WebLink
Water Supply Reserve Account - Grant and Loan Program <br />Water Activity Summary Sheet <br />Applicant: Colorado State University <br />Water Activity Name: Identification and Assessment of Important Wetlands in North Platte River <br />Watershed <br />Amount Requested: $182,000 <br />Source of Funds: $86,000 (North Platte Basin Account); $96,000 (Statewide Account) <br />Matching Funds: $10,000 <br />Water Activity Purpose: Study or analysis of nonconsumptive water project or activity <br />County: Jackson <br />Drainage Basin: North Platte <br />Water Sources: North Platte <br />Staff Recommendation <br />Staff recommends approval of up to $86,000 from the North Platte Basin Account and $96,000 from the <br />Statewide Account to help fiind the Identification and Assessment of Important Wetlands in North Platte <br />River Watershed contingent on resolution of the item in the issues/additional needs section. <br />Water Activity Summary: <br />This project will provide the North Platte BRT with data to support the non-consumptive needs assessment <br />with regard to its wetland resources. The project will identify and assess the health of the North Platte's <br />watershed as indicated by the condition of its wetlands. Survey areas will be prioritized by the BRT's with a <br />focus on private lands. The proposed project will provide an increased understanding of the watershed's <br />wetlands leading to more effective protection of the area's waters. <br />Major tasks for this project include: <br />1. Preparation for project and compilation of existing data resources; <br />2. Data collection; <br />3. Data processing, final evaluation, prioritization of sites and map generation <br />Threshold and Evaluation Criteria <br />The application appears to adequately meet the Threshold Criteria. Regarding criterion 2, the applicant <br />states that this project is consistent with Section 37-75-102 CRS. They state, "The results from the <br />proposed project do not imply any legal significance. Surveys will take place on private lands only with <br />written permission of the landowner. The wetlands surveyed will be mapped based on ecological <br />criteria, not jurisdictional criteria as defined by the US army Corps of Engineers." <br />Regarding the Evaluation Criteria for Statewide Account fiinding requests, the applicant states that this <br />study will identify and assess the health of the North Platte's watershed as indicated by the condition of <br />its wetlands and that this project is designed to provide the Roundtable with necessary data to support <br />their non-consumptive needs assessment. The applicant stresses the importance of the basin's large, <br />contiguous wetlands to threatened species (e.g. boreal toads, cutthroat trout), migratory animals, and <br />several globally rare riparian and wetland plant communities. In making this connection with the non- <br />consumptive needs assessment, the application appears to meet several criteria: