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 SPR is DU's main focus in Colorado. Diverse habitats and geographic isolation from other large western rivers attracts millions of waterfowl and migratory birds each year. The Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) estimates that 74% of all bird species in Colorado are found on the SPR sometime during each year. However, the Platte is losing its diverse habitat and natural features due to impacts on water resources caused by human diversions. Changes in natural flood regimen such as over bank flooding, scouring, and flushing flows have reduced the number of seasonal wetlands, warm-water sloughs, and sandbars. These habitats have been further reduced by agricultural practices, and municipal and industrial enterprises. River augmentation via wetland recharge has become a viable technology for restoring and creating seasonal wetland habitat. Water applied directly to the recharge basin provides inigration and wintering habitat, but return flows through the alluvial aquifer augment flows to warm-water sloughs, raise groundwater tables to supply seasonal wetlands, and supplement flows in the river channel, the latter of which is the main goal of river augmentation projects. Recent studies conducted by the RMBO and Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) demonstrate that recharge wetlands are vital to migratory and wintering birds on the SPR, as more than 20 species of migratory birds and 27 species of waterfowl use these habitats. 4. If the Contracting Entity- is different then the Applicant (Project Sponsor or Owner) please describe the Contracting Entity here. Restoration projects in this application will be engineered by Paragon Consulting Group in Fort Collins. Paragon has become an informal partner of DU, assisting in engineering of water rights applications for several landowners working with us. Paragon understands the true needs of water users on the South Platte and is capable of developing big picture projects aimed to address the diverse needs of water projects. All grant funds used to contract engineering services will be conducted through a funding agreement with Ducks Unlimited. We may also reserve the right to transfer grant fiends either to Paragon Consulting or to another consulting firm or landowner for construction of the project. Such a transfer will be conducted under a funding agreement and site specific agreement that outlines the terms of construction. All other funds for land and water protection will remain under the direct supervision and control of Ducks Unlitnited. Part B. - Description of the Water Activity - Please Refer to Criteria and Guidance Document for Eligibly Requirements 1. Naive of water activity/project: Lower South Platte Water Protection and Wetland Restoration 3