Finance Committee Meeting 2008

• Board Meeting Date: 9/16/2008
• Description: Finance Sub-Committee Meeting September 16, 2008
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Water Conservation Board �,,,
•
Department of Natural Resources w�� °lo�
1313 Sherman Street,Room 721 e
Denver,Colorado 80203 _; o
Phone:[phone]
Fax:[phone] r X876«
www.cwcb.state.co.us . '
TO: Colorado Water Conservation Board Members Bill Ritter,Jr.
Governor
FROM: Tom Browning, Chief Hams D.Sherman
Watershed Protection& Flood Mitigation Section DNR Executive Director
Jennifer L.Gimbel
DATE: July 29, 2008 CWCB Director
Dan McAuliffe
SUBJECT: Non-Reimbursable Investments CWCB Deputy Director
Colorado Dust on Snow Program(CODOS)
Background
This request from the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies (CSAS) seeks to develop a broad-
based dust on snow program serving the full spectrum of Colorado's snowmelt stakeholders with
useful information. The proposed work includes: 1) enhancing the scope and frequency of dust
on snow monitoring, 2) enhancing the advisories issued to stakeholders to address impacts on
• snowmelt timing and rates, with additional basin by basin detail, and 3) conducting research
activities that enhance the CODOS program for future snowmelt forecasts. The CDOS program
can assist with snowmelt forecasting efforts to benefit flood preparedness activities and water
supply management.
Discussion
For the past several years, dust from the Colorado Plateau has been widely observed within and
on the snowpack surface at locations throughout Colorado. Until recently, snowmelt forecasting
programs and water managers were not receiving data regarding the dust in mountain
snowpacks. Likewise, there had been no attempts to estimate the effects of dust on snowmelt
timing, intensity, or duration. Integrating the `dust factor' into snowmelt processes is providing
new insights into runoff patterns. Funding partners have included the National Science
Foundation, water conservation/conservancy districts, and the Western Water Assessment.
Staff Request
Staff is requesting approval by the Board for a non-reimbursable investment from the CWCB
Construction Fund in the amount of$30,000 for cost-sharing assistance to CSAS. The
proposed CWCB investment would be leveraged greatly by contributions from other
sponsoring entities for statewide benefit. The funds, if authorized, would be available to
support on-going research, analyses, and development of appropriate tools.
Recommendation
III Staff recommends that the Board request that the General assembly authorize $30,000 from the
Construction Fund to be appropriated to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for direct
transfer to the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies in order to support the Colorado Dust on
Snow Program.
Water Supply Protection•Flood Protection•Stream&Lake Protection•Water Supply Planning&Finance
Water Conservation&Drought Planning•Intrastate Water Management&Development