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(Coop Program) for operation of streamflow gaging stations in Colorado and, <br />(3) Introduce preliminary concepts for prioritizing investments of FMF in <br />the surface- water - quality monitoring network operated by the USGS in <br />Colorado. We introduced the gaging- station prioritization concept during <br />the 2001 annual meeting and discussed our evolving thoughts on this <br />prioritization issue during both the 2002 and 2003 annual meetings. We <br />will present and then discuss with you our thoughts for implementing the <br />plan in FY05 at the June meetings. We also will present prioritization <br />concepts for the water - quality network at the June meetings, but we do not <br />anticipate implementing a prioritization plan in FY05. Our primary <br />objective is to engage our cooperators in discussions about the <br />water - quality prioritization concepts at the meetings and progress from <br />there to hone those concepts and consider implementation at a later time. <br />At meetings where there is cooperator interest, we also could discuss <br />preliminary concepts for prioritizing investments of FMF in the <br />ground - water -level monitoring networks operated by the USGS in Colorado. <br />An agenda for the meetings (same agenda for all the meetings) is included <br />here as attachment 1. The agenda indicates coverage of the prioritization <br />topics, as well as, of course, presentation of information about <br />data - collection costs for FY05. <br />The schedule for the five data - program cooperator meetings is: <br />June 15, 2004 @ 10:00 am Meeker Town Hall Meeting Room, 345 Market <br />St., Meeker, CO <br />June 16, 2004 @ 10:00 am Sheriff's Conference Room, Gunnison County <br />Courthouse, 200 East Virginia Ave., Gunnison, CO <br />June 17, 2004 @ 10:00 am Southwestern Water Conservation District <br />Conference Room, 841 East Second Ave., Durango, CO <br />June 22, 2004 @ 9:30 am Denver Federal Center, Building 53, USGS National <br />Training Center, Snowmass Room, Lakewood, CO <br />June 25, 2004 @ 9:00 am Wells Fargo Bank Bldg., USGS Conference Room, 2nd <br />Floor, 201 W. 8th St., Pueblo, CO <br />Attachment 2 lists all the individuals, sorted by agency affiliation, who <br />will receive this letter. For each individual, we have indicated our <br />assumption about which meeting that person would attend. We hope that each <br />organization can be represented at one of meetings. We welcome <br />participants to attend whichever meeting you wish. To help us make <br />logistical arrangements for the meetings, we request that you RSVP with an <br />indication of which of the meetings you will attend (email: <br />paspeckm @usgs.gov or telephone Patti Speckman at (303) 236- 4882). <br />Attendance by more than one individual per agency is perfectly acceptable. <br />The primary impetus for our thinking about FMF prioritization is that for <br />about 6 years now, the customer demand for streamflow and water - quality <br />monitoring conducted by the USGS in Colorado through the Coop Program <br />exceeds our ability to match the Cooperators' offerings on a 50 -50 basis. <br />In fact, because the Coop Program appropriation from Congress has been <br />essentially level for many years, we are losing federal - dollar purchasing <br />power for our monitoring activities at about the rate of inflation. Our <br />Cooperators are well aware of the ramification of this inflation effect: <br />that is, year -to -year, we are having to depart further and further from a <br />cost -share ratio that at one time was 50 -50. We are concerned that as the <br />Cooperators' share of monitoring - program costs rise, we may see cost - driven <br />reductions in the scope of our streamflow and water - quality monitoring <br />activities. Thus, we believe it is important for the USGS to develop plans <br />for prioritization of the investments of FMF in the Coop Program to help <br />ensure that our available data - collection resources are expended for <br />monitoring activities that we and our cooperators believe are the most <br />appropriate to help provide essential information about the water- resources <br />of the State. The term "appropriate" entails considerations of the type of <br />2 <br />