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Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and Grand County formally entered into the <br /> Windy Gap Firming Project Intergovernmental Agreement(WGFP IGA) on December 6, <br /> 2012 and a 1041 Permit was issued for the Windy Gap Firming Project. The agreement states: <br /> "The Parties acknowledge that Grand County intends to time such releases for <br /> beneficial use in a manner that results in optimizing the benefits to aquatic and <br /> recreation resources within the County... " <br /> c. Meets Defined Needs: This project has been identified as an important part of the area's <br /> recreational needs by a number of parties, and this reach is included in the Colorado Basin's <br /> nonconsumptive needs assessment and as part of Grand County's Stream Management Plan, <br /> which was partially funded through WSRA grants. <br /> Tier 2: Facilitating Water Activity Implementation <br /> Funding will likely reduce the uncertainty that the project will be implemented. According to the <br /> budget, there will be $690,700 of matching funds spent on this project during construction and for <br /> operation and maintenance, representing 138% of the grant requests. Further, the applicant has spent <br /> $495,414 since 2004 to bring the project to the point of implementation. This demonstrates a <br /> significant and appropriate commitment. <br /> Tier 3: The Water Activity Addresses Other Issues of Statewide Value and Maximizes Benefits. <br /> The project will help meet recreational needs. However, this would be the first application for <br /> statewide dollars for funding a whitewater park for recreational purposes. Attached is a letter to the <br /> CWCB Board from Grand County dated December 18, 2012. This letter presents Grand County's <br /> arguments as to why they believe this project qualifies for Statewide funds. <br /> Discussion: <br /> After careful review by several staff, there have been several points of discussion. These include: <br /> 1) The timing of the grant is prior to the issuance of a RICD decree by the water court. However, <br /> a whitewater park does not require a decree per se. <br /> 2) Not all project funds have been fully secured at this time. Grand County should secure <br /> adequate matching funds for the project as specified in the scope of work prior-+'tinitiating <br /> project construction. <br /> 3) The use of Statewide account dollars for construction of a whitewater park, which will likely <br /> have a RICD decree associated with it, is a policy decision for the Board to decide. <br /> Issues/Additional Needs: <br /> See recommendation below. <br /> Staff Recommendation: <br /> Staff recognizes that the request for$100,000 from the Colorado Basin Account has met all of the <br /> eligibility requirements and threshold criteria of the WSRA grants from the basin roundtable account, <br /> and therefore suggests that the Board approve the request to use the WSRA Colorado River Basin <br /> Account to help fund the Gore Canyon Whitewater Park at Pumphouse. <br /> Staff defers to the CWCB Board as to whether to approve up to $400,000 from the Statewide account <br /> for this project. Use of Statewide Account dollars for construction of a whitewater park,which will <br /> likely have a decree for an RICD associated with the whitewater park,has never been approved by <br /> • this Board, as such,this is a policy decision for the Board to decide. <br /> - 3 - <br />