Minutes May 13 08 Final - Laserfiche WebLink

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RGBRT 5-13-08 Minutes Roundtable attendees who felt IBCC involvement and Town Hall meetings would be redundant. Judy informed the IBCC members accordingly. 8. Mike Sullivan's Report - Ten day report - Valley will not experience the flooding we expected. Cold-warm weather cycle this spring has kept us from having a quick melt out, with steady runoff reducing potential for flooding. Snowpack this year similar to 2005 except less moisture. Snowpack on western side of Valley is at 109% of average, compared to 170% earlier this year. Mike warned not to be complacent, as flooding still a possibility. A good water year, but high winds that decreased the snow pack. Stream flow steady over past 10 days. 9. Water Supply Reserve Account (SIB-179) Funding Preview - Nicole Langley moderated a PowerPoint introduction and preview of four applicants planning to submit proposals for funding at the next Roundtable meeting in June. Nicole informed members that each proposal had met CWCB's Eligibility Criteria and Threshold Criteria. She asked members to be mindful of their responsibility, at the June Roundtable, to judge each proposal on its merits, not competitively. She reviewed the evaluation and approval process of Rio Grande Interbasin Roundtable and reminded members of the need for applicants to address the Roundtable's consumptive and non-consumptive issues as well as CWCB's Evaluation Criteria. She thanked Mike Gibson and members of the Technical Support Committee for their assistance and urged members to take advantage of the technical support and funding opportunities available through the Rio Grande Interbasin Roundtable. Applicants then introduced their respective proposals as follows: Conejos River North Branch Diversion & Stabilization - Manassa Land & Irrigation Company, Jack Gilleland & Nathan Coombs: A three-phase project to address a major diversion problem at the North Branch bifurcation of the Conejos River. Critical serving over twenty ditch companies, to 22,800 irrigated acres, and to maintaining the integrity of the entire Rio Grande Compact system. Participants include NRCS, Conejos Conservancy District, and multiple irrigation ditches and land owners. Amount to be requested - $380,700. Platoro Reservoir Restoration - Conejos Water Conservancy District, Bob Robins & Mike Willett: The outlet works at Platoro Reservoir have reached the end of their 50 years of service. Now in critical need of repair and replacement. Bypass piping, funded by US Bureau of Reclamation, will maintain minimum flows for fisheries and habitat protection in riparian areas; penstock painting stops corrosion and provides water management efficiencies; and butterfly valve replacement. With new valves, flows can be better controlled and hence protects about 100,000 acres, downstream communities, endangered species, and recreational assets from flood. Ensures Colorado's Compact commitments. Participants are USBOR, ditch companies, and Conejos Water Conservancy District. Amount to be requested $150,000. Santa Maria & Continental Reservoirs: Studies for Rehabilitation and Multiple Use - Santa Maria Reservoir Company, Ron Peterson: A century-old water conveyance system between Continental Reservoir and Santa Maria Reservoir, approximately eight miles distant from each other, is complicated by problems of limited capacity, seepage and spillway deficiencies at Continental and unused capacity at Santa Maria. Engineering, hydrology and hydraulic studies to be funded go beyond previous short-sighted studies which did not address multiple uses and many non- consumptive opportunities for fisheries and recreation. Benefits include increased 2of4