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 3. For Applications that include a request for funds from the Statewide Account, describe hovv the water activity- ineets the Evaluation Criteria. See Pail 3 of Criteria and Guidelines Projects outlined in this application will ultimately address two separate but related issues; conservation easements to protect the long-term water rights and land values associated with properties important to meet SWSI objectives and Platte River Recovery Implementation Program (PRRIP) objectives for Colorado, and restoration of wetlands to increase efficiency of water use for multiple beneficial uses. Ducks Unlimited decided to include restoration projects in this application, which was originally conceived to secure funding for easements, because DT Ranch and Fender will be receiving both restoration and easement fiends. Promote Collaboration & Cooperation Proposal properties address multiple needs or issues as outlined in SWSI Phase I & 11. This project includes several partners that provide match in the form of land, cash, and in-kind services. As stated above, DU works through a cooperative partnership of wildlife, open space and water interests and has been highly successful in the past. Almost all of our work centers on providing river augmentation through wetland recharge projects, which benefit many of the partners in our South Platte Wetlands Focus Area Committee (SPFAC). Our projects have been selected specifically because they meet the objectives outlined in SWSI and the PRRIP including agricultural, municipal, industrial, enviroiunental, recreational, and public access to lands for recreation. Through this partnership DU has lead the way with match funds to secure North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants (NAWCA). These grants represent the pinnacle of cooperation as they require significant match and diverse partnerships to secure. We have received three $1-million grants in the past to protect land and water through conservation easements, and restore wetlands, mostly recharge wetlands. Match requirements for NAWCA grants are $1 nonfederal to $1 federal, however higher match ratios make proposals much more competitive in the scoring process. Our partnership has raised nearly $14 million to secure the three NAWCA grants,. Due to the generous support of the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) via the roundtable process along with South Platte Water Related Activities Program (SPWRAP), Lower South Platte River Group (SPLRG), LSPWCD, and many others we will be pursuing a fourth NAWCA in August, 2008. We look forward to pursuing another $1 million NAWCA grant again as early as March 2009. All of these funds are being applied to wildlife related water issues in the South Platte and would be impossible to access if not for the incredible support and cooperation of our partners. While we don't believe this project will solve all problems, we hope that it will be an example of the power of partnerships to other basins in the state. Since obtaining our first grant from the CWCB in 2007, we have been approached by several other basins to discuss new partnerships and water projects. Most notably is the North Platte Roundtable, where we will be exploring opportunities to develop nearly 30,000 acres of formerly irrigated pasture and hay ground and put it back into production. There is also nearly 17,000 ac-ft of water that could be stored for irrigation purposes. We have found a new partner in the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District and plan for several new projects in cooperation with them. Presentations have been provided to the South Park contingency from the South Platte Roundtable as with the Rio Grande Roundtable. Millions of dollars have been spent to secure land and water for the purposes now identified for SWSI. 6