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V?ater Supply Reserve Account -Grant Application Form
<br />Form Revised May ?0?7
<br />4. Please provide an overview of the water project or activity to be funded including - type of activity,
<br />statement of what the activity is intended to accomplish, the need for the activity, the problems and
<br />opportunities to be addressed, expectations of the participants, why the activity is important, the
<br />service area or geographic location, and any relevant issues etc. Please include any relevant
<br />TABQR issues that may affect the Contracting Entity. Please refer to Part Z of Criteria and
<br />Guidance document for additional detail on information to include.
<br />At first glance, the North Platte River Watershed is typical of northern Colorado--an arid, sagebrush
<br />dominated ecosystem that receives, on average, less than l ? inches precipitation per year. However,
<br />wetland and riparian areas are also present and provide essential water, habitat and food sources far
<br />wildlife, birds, and plants, as well as humans. These wetlands and riparian areas along the North Platte
<br />River and its tributaries, contribute to Colorado's overall biadiversity. The watershed faces challenges
<br />to the long-term viability and integrity due to anthropogenic impacts ?e.g., oil and gas, water storage
<br />prof ects? that could result in the loss of critical wetlands, affecting agriculture, and water
<br />qualitylquantity. These wetlands also serve as important water bird breeding areas, wildlife habitat, and
<br />refuge for rare amphibians, fish, and plants. Landscape alterations for development purposes threaten
<br />the present rural and agricultural character and culture of northern Colorado. These anthrapogenic
<br />changes may also result in a signif cant loss of wetlands and the waters that support them, along with
<br />wildlife and plant species that depend an them. Presently, there is little information on the watershed's
<br />wetlands location, type, or condition to assist indecisions regarding natural resources. This proposed
<br />project will provide baseline information on the status, type, condition, and location of biologically
<br />significant wetlands.
<br />The project's success depends on the collaboration and cooperation of local, state, federal, and private
<br />entities. The first task will be to bring together the North Platte Roundtable, as well as other interested
<br />parties in the watershed to identify and prioritize lands to survey. Expectations for landowner participation
<br />in the project are high due to the commitment and dedication of the Roundtable to assist in landowner
<br />contacts. CNHP has found an almost 1 ?Q% participation of landowners when f rst contact by a member of
<br />the local community ar advisory council, e.g., Roundtable members. In preparation for this proposal,
<br />seven landowners have granted permission to survey their lands.
<br />CN?P has a proven retard of success. Since 1994, CNHP has systematically identified, classified, and
<br />assessed wetlands within Park, Lorimer, Rautt, Rio Grande, Conejos, El Pasa, Pueblo, Garfield, Mesa,
<br />Gunnison, La Plata, Fremont, Dalares, Alamosa, Costilla, Archuleta, Grand, Rio Blanca, Boulder and
<br />Summit counties, as well as wetlands in watershed areas such as the San Luis Valley ?Saguache and
<br />northern Alamosa counties}, and the Uncompahgre River Basin ?Mantrose and Quray counties}. The
<br />ecalagistlprojectieader has supervised 22 County wetland surveys since 1995.
<br />Qther available or proposed resources for the project to CNHP are as follows:
<br />1) BLM-$10,000 Survey of important wetlands on BLM lands, encumbered for 2009,
<br />2) Colorado DOWsurvey of important wetlands on DOW lands,
<br />3) NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Science) lands
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