Agenda item __, January 27-28, 2008 Board Meeting

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Agenda Item _, Native Species Conservation Trust Fund Recommendations January 27 -28, 2009 Board Meeting Page 2 of 5 Distribution of Funds The Act requires that funding be distributed for the following purposes: 1. Cooperative agreements, recovery programs, and other programs that are designed to meet obligations arising under the federal "Endangered Species Act of 1973" that provides regulatory certainty. 2. Studies and programs established or approved by the CDOW and the Executive Director of the DNR regarding: (a) Species placed on the state endangered or threatened list; (b) Candidate species, in order to assist in the recovery or protection of the species to avoid listing of the species; and, (c) Scientific research relating to listing or delisting any species. Current SCTF Balances The cost share funding obligations for the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program completed and the funds full expended. The San Juan Recovery Program cost share funds have been fully obligated. As of the projected balance in the SCTF Capital Account: which is used to fund the Upper Colorado River Recovery Implementation Program (UCRIP), San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program (SJRIP) and the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program Cooperative Agreement is $ . Of this amount, $ has been appropriated and either expended or encumbered leaving a balance of $ in the fund for FY09 -10 requests. As of , the balance in the SCTF O &M Account, which is used primarily to fund CDOW activities related to state listed threatened and endangered species, candidate species and species of concern, is $ . Of this amount, $ has been appropriated and either expended or encumbered leaving a balance of $ , which when adding interest of $ makes $ available to fund the FY09 -10 requests. This financial information demonstrates the need to replenish the SCTF if we are to maintain adequate funds to meet our remaining obligation estimated at $ for Colorado's cost share for the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program and continue to provide state funding to address state listed species, candidate species and species of concern. DNR is working with the State Office of Planning and Budget to replenish funds in the SCTF account and is considering a request of $ ($ for Capital and $ for O &M), which would come mainly from Severance Tax. We are hopeful that the SCTF can be replenished to a level that makes substantial funding available to meet Colorado's anticipated cost share requirements. FY 2009 -10 Recommended Proarams The recommendations for FY 2009 -10 have been reviewed with the stakeholders group that DNR convenes annually and with the Wildlife Commission. Assuming that the SCTF Capital Account is replenished as is being requested, the recommendations are as follows: Flood Protection • Water Project Planning and Financing • Stream and Lake Protection Water Supply Protection • Conservation Planning