Memorandum: November 8 2009 Agenda Item 11 Water Supply Protection Section

• Description: Memorandum: November 8 2009 Agenda Item 11 Water Supply Protection Section
• State: CO
• Date: 11/8/2009
• Author: Kowalski, Ted; Bassi, Linda
• Title: Memorandum: November 8 2009 Agenda Item 11 Water Supply Protection Section
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Board Memo

STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us
TO: Colorado Water Conservation Board Members Bill Ritter' Jr.
Governor
FROM: Ted Kowalski and Linda Bassi James Martin
DNR Executive Director
DATE: November 8 2009 Jennifer Gimbel
� CWCB Di rector
SUBJECT: Agenda Item 11 November 17 -18 2009 Board Meeting Dan Mcauliffe
g` > > g CWCB Deputy Director
Water Supply Protection Section — Wild and Scenic
Rivers
Background
As we have discussed at a number of previous meetings, there are several different BLM and
USFS field offices that have initiated NEPA analysis through their planning processes, including
considering whether certain river segments are appropriately "suitable" for designation under the
Wild and Scenic River Act. With regard to these processes, the CWCB Staff have continued to
attend meetings with the various stakeholders, who include environmental interests, local
governments, recreational interests, federal agencies, state agencies, and water providers, to
explore a variety of alternatives for protecting the Outstandingly Remarkable Values ( "ORVs ")
associated with these river segments without affecting Colorado's ability to fully use its compact
entitlements. Stakeholder groups are currently discussing alternatives in the Dolores River basin
( "DRD group "), the San Juan River basin (separated into five different basins) ( "RPW group "),
the Upper Colorado River basin ( "the Upper Colorado group "), and the lower Gunnison,
Dolores, and Colorado River basins ( "the lower Colorado group ").
This past legislative session, the General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 09 -125, which created
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Fund ( "Fund ") and continuously appropriated $400,000 annually
from the CWCB's Construction Fund to develop protection of river - dependent resources as an
alternative to wild and scenic river designation. This Fund refreshes up to $400,000 each year;
however, the "Board shall review the purpose of the Fund annually and hereby is authorized to
cease providing moneys in the following year if, in its discretion, the Board determines that the
purposes for which the Fund was established has ceased. The Board may set terms and
conditions as it deems appropriate concerning the annual expenditures of moneys from the
Fund." At the September Board meeting, the Board requested the Staff to develop a draft of
terms and conditions for distributing monies from the Fund, which are attached. In addition, the
Board requested additional details about the four existing alternatives processes.
Staff Recommendation
The Staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached terms and conditions for Fund
distribution. In addition, the Staff recommends that the Board provide feedback on the current
status of the various processes.
Water Supply Protection • Watershed Protection & Flood Mitigation • Stream & Lake Protection • Water Supply Planning & Finance
Water Conservation & Drought Planning • Intrastate Water Management & Development