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<br />• <br />CWCB's has had substantial involvement in developing a well planned strategy to solve <br />Colorado's tamarisk and Russian olive problem. A brief history of CWCB's actions <br />follows. In 2003 Governor Owens issued Executive Order D00203 which directs the <br />Colorado Departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture, and any other state <br />agency ... to take measures necessary to eradicate tamarisk on public lands within 10 <br />years ..." and to "submit a report ... outlining a viable plan". In January 2004 DNR <br />submitted the required plan to Governor's office and it was accepted. The plan <br />recommended a local watershed based approach to tamarisk and russian olive control, <br />with the state providing a technical assistance and coordinating role. CWCB took on this <br />challenge. On Oct. 11, 2006 the President signed the Salt Cedar and Russian Olive <br />Control Demonstration Act, PL 109-320. Sponsors included Rep. Udall and Salazar, <br />and Sen. Allard and Salazar. The Act authorizes matching funding for large-scale <br />demonstration projects which Colorado entities hope to access if and when federal <br />funds are appropriated. In 2006 and 2007 CWCB completed a statewide mapping and <br />inventorying of tamarisk and russian olive infestations. In 2007 the Colorado <br />Headwaters Invasives Partnership (CHIP) plan was completed for the Colorado, <br />Gunnison, and Dolores rivers and endorsed by Governor Ritter. Currently, companion <br />plans for the Arkansas, Purgatoire, Republican, South Platte, White, San Juan, and <br />Yampa rivers are in various stages of completion. All are being completed utilizing the <br />prior mapping work and additional grants for technical assistance from CWCB. With <br />authorization of the new grant program the CWCB is now ready to move into "on-the- <br />ground" tamarisk and russian olive control efforts. <br />• <br />• <br />