Agenda Item 21, July 5-6, 2006 Board Meeting, Water Supply Protection

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-2- an ave age of 130,000 to 150,000 acre -feet per year at Grand Island; 2) protect, restore, and maintain 10,00 acres of habitat; and, 3) implement the integrated monitoring and research plan ( "IMRP ") throug the Adaptive Management Plan ( "AMP "). Them netary cost of the first increment of the program is $187 million (2005). In addition to monet ry contributions the States plan to contribute water and land to the program. The total burden of the rogram in terms of monetary, water, and land contributions will be shared equally by the Unite States and the three States (50% federaU50% States). Feder 1 authorization legislation is being advanced in Washington D.C. Senators Allard and Salazar intro ced Senate Bill 3611 on June 29, 2006, which would provide federal authorization for partic pation in the Program. Federal legislation that will appropriate funds for the Program will be oursu d as well. Colo do would have obligations to provide money and water for implementation of the Program. Colo do would be responsible for $24 million (2005 dollars, final cash contributions would have to be a usted for inflation). This money would be used to acquire and restore habitat for the target speci s and to implement the IMRP and the AMP. Additional money would be necessary to satisfy Colo ado's water obligations, as described below. With regard to Colorado's cash obligation, the Gen al Assembly passed House Bill 1311, which recapitalized the Species Conservation Trust Fund with n additional $12.8 million, and which authorized the expenditure of up to $5 million for the Platt River Program in fiscal year 2006 -07. Colorado's water obligations would include: 1) 10,000 acre eet annually to be retimed during times of target flow shortages by the end of year 4 of the Pro am (5,000 acre -feet by the end of year 2 of the Program) (often referred to as "Tamarack I ") ; and, ) water to cover future depletions related to the South Platte River (new depletions from 1997 esta lished as a baseline), which is approximately 1800 acre - feet /year of water per 100,000 addi ional people in the South Platte River Basin in Colorado, retimed during times of target flow sho ages. Colorado's North Platte River Basin future depletions plan could be described as a non- plan So long as the total irrigated acres is less than 134, 467 acres in Jackson County, the POP lation in Jackson County remains less than 2022, and piscatorial, wildlife, and other envi onmental uses are incidental to irrigation uses, the North Platte River Basin in Colorado is cov red under the Program as existing uses. With regard to Tamarack I, Colorado has approximately $2 illion authorized for satisfying this water obligation through drilling and operating wells and rec rge pits to retime water. This project is expected to net approximately 4200 acre -feet annually tow rds ours 10,000 acre -feet annual requirement. Colorado will need additional water projects and mo ey to fully satisfy our 10,000 acre -feet annual obligation, as well as the future depletions ass ciated with growth in the South Platte River Basin within Colorado. A w non - profit organization has been formed to help satisfy the Platte River Program res onsibilities, to the extent that the State is unable to fully meet these obligations. This org nization is called the South Platte Water Related Activities Program ( "SPWRAP "). The State an SPWRAP have been developing an MOU to define responsibilities and roles regarding the fin ncial, water, and accounting obligations associated with the Program. SPWRA.P would obtain its fu s from its water users and SPWRAP members would also receive streamlined approvals through co rdination with the State, from the FWS. Flood Protection • Water Project Planning and Financing . Stream and Lake Protection Water Supply Protection • Conservation Planning