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Water Supply Reserve Account - Grant and Loan Program <br />Water Activity Summary Sheet <br />Applicant: US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station <br />Water Activity Name: Effects of Mountain Pine Beetle and Forest Management on Water <br />Quantity, Quality and Forest Recovery - North Platte and Upper Colorado River Basins <br />Amount Requested: $ 376,923.48 <br />Source of Funds: $212,305.56 (Basin Account) and $164,617.92 (Statewide Account) <br />Matching Funds: Significant in-kind staffing and equipment, value not quantified <br />Water Activity Purpose: Non-structural water activity <br />County: Jackson, Routt, and Grand; perhaps others <br />Drainage Basin: N. Platte and Colorado River basins <br />Water Source: multiple <br />Staff Recommendation <br />Staff recommends approval of up to $212,000 from the North Platte Basin Account and <br />$165,000 from the Statewide Account to help complete the "Effects of Mountain Pine Beetle and <br />Forest Management on Water Quantity, Quality and Forest Recovery - North Platte and Upper <br />Colorado River Basins" project contingent on resolution of the item in the issues/additional <br />needs section. <br />Water Activity Summary: <br />The proposed research addresses the effects of disturbance and management of the Mountain <br />Pine Beetle on North Platte and Upper Colorado River water resources, both quantity and <br />quality. This study will compare how four management alternatives commonly used in beetle-killed <br />pine forests influence snow accumulation, streamflow, water quality, soil productivity and forest <br />recovery. The management alternatives result in distinct amounts of aboveground structure, surface <br />roughness and soil disturbance. The No Action option retains standing snags, downed wood and <br />maximum surface roughness. Logging conducted using Watershed Protection goals retains logging <br />residue to maintain roughness and avoid soil disturbance. In contrast, the Fuel Reduction option <br />removes slash, and the Forest Regeneration option combines slash reduction and mechanical <br />scarification to enhance seedling establishment. Assessment of these management alternatives will <br />improve decisions on how to sustain delivery of clean water and forest productivity from lands <br />impacted by mountain pine beetle. <br />Threshold and Evaluation Criteria <br />The proposed research meets Section 37-75-104(2), Colorado Revised Statutes, in that the <br />research will develop methods and help quantify changes in water available following <br />disturbance by mountain pine beetle and subsequent management activities. The proposal <br />addresses multiple issues: forest health, fuels reduction, forest management, mountain pine <br />beetle epidemic, all in a water quantity and quality context. The proposal promotes collaboration <br />in forest and water management activities between the US Forest Service, Colorado State Forest <br />Service, and basin interests statewide where beetle infestation is occurring and management <br />strategies are needed. Without the funding, the proposed research will not be completed. The <br />North Platte Roundtable portion of the proposal provides partial funding, but the work cannot be <br />completed without entire funding. Sound management tools and decisions are needed to