08 Annual Report

• Title: 2008 Annual Report
• Date: 11/1/2008
• Interbasin CC - Doc Type: Annual Legislative Report

Interbasin Compact Committee Annual Report
Foreword
October 31, 2008
Page 3
Water Supply Reserve Account
Each BRT is identifying projects that can help meet their water supply needs, but for which additional
financial support is needed. That is the purpose of the Water Supply Reserve Account ("WSRA"). Through
state severance tax dollars, grant money enables local entities to implement water related activities and water
supply projects. Requests for funds from the WSRA must be approved by the local BRTs and are then
forwarded to the CWCB for evaluation and approval. Complete lists of the approved WSRA applications are
included in the attached newsletters, and the third quarter newsletter summarizes the distribution of funds.
Public Education and Outreach
Colorado's water future is central to the quality of life and future of our state. It is essential, therefore, that the
public be informed of and engaged in the work that is shaping our water supply future. Much has taken place
in the last year to achieve this objective, under the guidance of the Public Education, Participation, and
Outreach work group within the IBCC. Through volunteer leadership, the work group has redesigned the
IBCC website (www.ibcc.state.co.us) for greater clarity and ease of navigation; created a wide range of
materials to better communicate the activities of the IBCC and BRTs (including presentations, fact sheets, and
quarterly newsletters); created an introduction to water law DVD, and conducted a series of town hall
meetings were conducted throughout the state. In addition, the work group worked with Colorado State
University to conduct a network analysis of the Colorado Roundtable
The Path Forward
The BRTs and IBCC will continue their work over the coming months. In 2009, our objectives are to
complete the basin needs assessments, finalize a vision for Colorado's water supply future, evaluate a range of
water supply strategies to help meet Colorado's consumptive and nonconsumptive water needs, and continue
to implement water projects and activities through the WSRA program. Together, these activities will help
further the fundamental premise upon which The Colorado Water for the 21st Century Act is based-that
Coloradans must work together to address our state's water needs. Our future calls for nothing less, and
through your continued leadership, this is a goal that we will help you achieve.
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Harris D. Sherman
Executive Director of DNR and
Director of Compact Negotiations