South Platte - Ducks Unlimited Lower SP Water Protection and Wetland Restoration_C150432 Application

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Water Supply Reserve Account - Grant Application Form Fonn Revised May 2007 the South Platte. The City of Brush conducted several years of monitoring along the property boundary to determine groundwater contaminant changes that may be caused by the recharge project. The results showed that contaminants, such as nitrogen and salt, were reduced. Visual inspections of these wetlands also demonstrate suspended solids are removed due to settling as the water enters the aquifer. Proposed tracts are held in private hands but are managed to provide habitat for wildlife. Bald Eagle's nests can be found within a few miles of any of the proposed projects. The lower hunting pressure offered by a private hunt club also permits for increased sanctuary opportunities. The DT Ranch held nearly 10,000 ducks and geese daily over the past winter. RMBO research shows that recharge wetlands on these types of properties increase both species richness and abundance for waterfowl, migratory shorebirds and wading birds of national importance. Wetlands habitats also provide direct benefit to adjacent uplands. Studies have shown that adjacent uplands of up to 6 times the area of the wetland can be influenced by the wetland. Increased species richness and abundance in plant and animal species results from wetland restoration. Promote cost effectiveness: Most partners involved in this project are non-profit organizations or state and federal agencies. With a diverse partnership each interest brings valuable expertise capable of developing projects from conception to delivery. Most upfront costs are kept low due to the nature of contributing partners and delivery is completed via federal regulations to promote competitive bids to assure the best contractors at the lowest price. Projects are also developed to promote cost efficiency to facilitate long term management (i.e., gravity feed vs. pumping). Conservation easements all have a significant value associated with the easement and DU requires a significant donation of the easement value on every easement we hold. To date we average a cash payment of 30% easement value. Of the easements we hold on the South Platte all but two have been donated in full. In an effort to step up our protection efforts however, we now offer to pay up to 50% of the easement value, which has been very well received by landowners and funding sources. We are asking the roundtable and CWCB to help with a portion of that payment on three of over twelve new projects. We expect that total easement value to exceed $800,000, but total payments of $395,000 we are asking CWCB to provide $300,000 of that cost plus some due diligence funds. Protect cultural values: As part of our due diligence all tracts have been reviewed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service for National Cultural Heritage Program. The Heyborne and Fender projects are located adjacent to historic Fort Sedgwick. Named for General John Sedgwick, who led Union military campaigns into the area, Fort Sedgwick was built on the Platte Trail and was used as a military outpost from 1864 to 1871. Since the neighboring town of Julesburg was a hotbed of feuding between White settlers and Native Americans, Fort Sedgwick was often used as a hideout, even for local residents who watched Julesburg burn to the ground in 1865. Fearing additional attacks from Native Americans who were outraged over 10