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Water Supply Reserve Account - Grant Application Form <br />Fonn Revised May 2007 <br />For the most part the projects have senior ditch rights which are being managed by the Water <br />Commissioner to satisfy the compact and priority rights. Return flows during summer months from all of <br />the projects should provide improved water flow throughout the river. Most notably will be the Fender <br />and Heyborne contributions as they are close the state line and return flows will contribute directly to the <br />Compact. <br />The water activity assists in the recovery of threatened and endangered wildlife species or <br />Colorado state species of concern: <br />Project water will be used to directly address Colorado water contributions to the PRRP which <br />will benefit endangered species in Nebraska. The PRRP identifies that habitat for piping plover, interior <br />least tern, and whooping crane depends on increased water flows. Project tracts will provide water <br />toward this effort. <br />Additionally, restored, created, or enhanced wetlands derived from this project will benefit <br />several species of concern. Project wetlands will benefit 52 bird species of national, regional, and local <br />priority. Approximately 12 species breed in the area, 3 over winter, and all migrate through the project <br />area. <br />Several fish species of state concern will also benefit from improved flows through warm-water <br />sloughs and the river channel, including brassy minnow and top minnow. <br />The water activity provides a high level of benefit to Colorado in relationship to the amount of <br />funds requested: <br />The CWCB will be contributing about 35% of the funds toward this project. Considering the <br />benefits outlined in previous sections, the benefit to Colorado is substantial compared to the funding <br />request. The CWCB has the opportunity to join a highly successfiil partnership capable of delivering on <br />the objectives outlined in SWSI and directed by HB-1177, a true interbasin project. <br />The water activity is complimentary to or assists in the implementation of other CWCB programs. <br />Through SPWRAP we have been able to leverage fiands for similar projects from the Species <br />Conservation Trust Fund managed by the CWCB in association with the PRRIP. <br />The water activity helps support the State's economic vitality and competitiveness in national and <br />international markets: <br />This is really a question of scale. Although the project proposal seems small compared to <br />constructing large reservoirs or storage facilities, the project meets all of the requirements of a project <br />that could assist in the States economic vitality. Recharge projects are required and have become the <br />main technology to assist in keeping many water rights viable. Such water rights allow for agricultural, <br />municipal, and industrial activities to proceed. Without recharge projects in the lower river most all <br />13