Finance Committee Meeting 2013

• Board Meeting Date: 9/26/2013
• Description: Finance Committee Meeting September 26, 2013
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

STATE OF COLORADO
410 Colorado Water Conservation Board �4�aHss y
Department of Natural Resources ,s 1580 Logan Street,Suite 600 3 t
Denver,Colorado 80203 ° "t. MI/
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Fax:[phone] '�.- ��1`'
www.cwcb.state.co.us • g39
John W.Hickenlooper
Governor
TO: Finance Committee Mike King
DNR Executive Director
Colorado Water Conservation Board
James Eklund
CWCB Director
FROM: Chris Sturm, Stream Restoration Coordinator
Watershed Protection and Flood Mitigation Section
DATE: September 13, 2013
SUBJECT: Non-Reimbursable Investments Item #4
Colorado Watershed Restoration Program
Introduction
The CWCB supports watershed restoration projects presented by multiple stakeholders with
diverse interests. The results are plans and projects designed to satisfy a range of non-
consumptive and consumptive water use objectives. Many of these efforts are completed on
small budgets funded through several sources of local, state and/or federal funds. There is
often a community volunteer component that contributes in-kind services through donated
materials and time. The Colorado Watershed Restoration Program (CWRP) has funded 32
projects with over $1,000,000 since its first grant cycle in January 2009. The projects have
leveraged $6.50 for every $1.00 contributed by CWRP.
In recent years Colorado has experienced mega-fires that have severely burned portions of
watersheds critical to water supply. Post-fire soils are often hydrophobic, and this results in
increased runoff after a rain event. Post-fire runoff has mobilized massive amounts of
sediment to reservoirs and depositional stream reaches below burn areas. Many ephemeral
drainages and perennial streams continue to contribute inordinate amounts of sediment after
the forest begins to heal. The incised channels do not dissipate flood energy well, and the
stream banks become a source for increased sediment loading. Staff is requesting more money
for the program this year in order to address post fire restoration efforts. Priority will be given
to those burn areas with the greatest potential to adversely affect water supplies.
Staff Recommendation
• Staff recommends that the Board request the General Assembly to authorize $500,000 from the
Construction Fund to be appropriated to the Department of Natural Resources for allocation to
the CWCB for the Colorado Watershed Restoration Program.
Interstate Compact Compliance•Watershed Protection•Flood Planning&Mitigation•Stream&Lake Protection
Water Project Loans&Grants•Water Modeling•Conservation&Drought Planning•Water Supply Planning