Finance Committee Meeting 2010

• Board Meeting Date: 9/13/2010
• Description: Finance Sub-Comittee Meeting September 13, 2010
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

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STATE OF COLORADO
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1313 Sherman Street,Room 721 x �! . _ O °Denver,Colorado 80203
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MEMORANDUM ,�f'' "14406/16,
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Bill Ritter,Jr. (�
Governor
To: Colorado Water Conservation Board Members Mike King
DNR Executive Director
From: Joe Busto, Weather Modification Program Coordinator Jennifer L.Gimbel
Watershed Protection& Flood Mitigation Section CWCB Director
Date: September 3, 2010
Re: CWCB Construction Fund Non Reimbursable Investment Request
CWCB Weather Modification Program- Water Users Cost Share Assistance
Introduction
0 The CWCB has been delegated the responsibilities to operate a weather modification permitting
program since 1987. In 2005 staff started a cloud seeding grants program at the request of water
users. In 2007 the CWCB signed the Colorado River Seven Basin States Agreements and a
similar agreement with the State of New Mexico. Each year those out-of-state agreements
provide donations to the CWCB to dispense to locally sponsored wintertime cloud seeding
programs. The focus has been an equitable distribution of funds and deploying better equipment.
Discussion
CWCB staff has $175,000 for fiscal year 2010-11 and is busy getting proposals funded and
agreements in place for winter 2010-11. The CWCB is requesting$175,000 for state fiscal year
2012 through this non reimbursable application. Staff has confirmed that the Lower Basin Water
users will provide $175,000 and the State of New Mexico will provide $25,000 for winter 2010-
11. Based on these commitments, including funds for this upcoming winter, the Colorado River
Water Users will have provided a total of$690,300 and t•: . •to of New Mexico has provided a
total of$134,000 over the last five winters for a total of g.824 301 n out of state donations. The
CWCB investment through the Construction Fund during t is period has been $810,000.
Recent accomplishments are extending all programs into and through February where studies
have shown there are great opportunities for cloud seeding. We have also helped put specialized
weather stations at: Winter Park, the Grand Mesa, Durango Mountain Resort, and Telluride Ski
Area. We have also helped deploy high output and high elevation silver iodide ice nuclei
generators at Winter Park, south of the Grand Mesa, and in the San Juan Mountains.
• Board Action
Staff recommends that the Board request that the General assembly authorize $175,000 from
the Construction Fund to be appropriated to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for use
in the CWCB Weather Modification Permitting Program.
Water Supply Protection•Watershed Protection&Flood Mitigation•Stream&Lake Protection•Water Supply Planning&Finance
Water Conservation&Drought Planning•Intrastate Water Management&Development