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NFEDERAL AND INTERSTATEN UTAH'S PROPOSED LAKE POWELL PIPELINE PROJECT: The Lake Powell Pipeline Project will take 100,000 acre-feet of water, which is part of Utah's Upper Colorado River Compact entitlement, from Lake Powell to Sand Hollow Reservoir near St. George, Utah which is located along the Virgin River, a Lower Colorado River Basin tributary. The proposed Project is being evaluated through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) "Integrated Licensing Process" (ILP). The ILP is a process by which licensing, permitting and environmental compliance are achieved in one single process. As previously reported the second scoping report was released on August 21, 2008 and is available for viewing at: http://www.water.utah.gov/LakePowellPipeline/ProjectUpdates/20080821-3005(19691112)SD2.pdf The Utah Division of Water Resources has also issued a study plan that is reviewable at: http://www.water.utah.govlLakePowellPipeline/ProjectUpdatesldefault.asp Comments on the study plan are due November 19, 2008 and staff has been working with the Colorado Attorney General's to develop comments. On October 27th Randy Seaholm and I visited with Utah representatives to get a better understanding of the Project and the development process. Utah representatives were very forthright and the meeting was very informative and we now have a much better overall understanding of Project. A FERC license and Record of Decision are expected in 2012, construction is anticipated to begin in 2015 and if everything proceeds as planned water deliveries are expected to begin in 2020. (Randy Seaholm) CWCB STAFF PARTICIPATES IN NATIONAL LEVEE SAFETY PROGRAM ROUNDTABLE: As part of the recently passed Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), a National Levee Safety Program was ordered to be created. The first step outlined in the National Levee Safety Program is the development of a National Levee Safety Committee (NLSC) for the purpose of providing recommendations for the framework for a national levee safety program, including a strategic plan for implementation. The NLSC is divided into four working groups. Paul Perri of the Division of Water Resources was selected as a member of the Program Development workgroup. Mr. Perri organized a roundtable meeting in Denver on October 27th. In addition to Mr. Perri, Tom Browning and Kevin Houck of CWCB staff were invited to attend due to their experience and perspective in working with levees within Colorado. Other invited professionals included staff from the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, former employees of the Division of Water Resources, and other recognized professionals. Feedback from the roundtable will be incorporated into the final recommendations. The NLSC is statutorily obligated to deliver its final report in January 2009, at which point implantation of the proposed program will likely begin. Members of the NLSC workgroup thanked the CWCB and others present for providing an insight into levee experiences in Colorado, which were acknowledged to be quite different from those in other areas of the country. The workgroup members assured CWCB staff that the input provided at this roundtable will help ensure that Colorado's interests in the eventual National Levee Safety Program will be considered. (Tom Browning) ~~ ~~ 4