HB 98-1006 Documents Related to the Passage 1998

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a` Capital Projects Proposed for Funding under HB 98 -1006 Capital project costs for the Endangered Species Act compliance programs that would be funded with HB 98 -1006 funds for the next three years are presented below. Assumptions: (1) Legislation is pending in Congress that would limit the cost share expected from the states and power users. The State of Colorado's share for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Programs is assumed not to exceed $9 million, which is about 54.4 percent of the $17 million of the states' share of the $100 million total for capital expenditures under this program. New Mexico shall provide $2.54 million (15% of the states' share), Utah will provide $3.51 million (20.6% of the states' share), and Wyoming shall provide $1.7 million (10% of the states' share). These shares correspond to the amount of water each state is allowed to deplete from the Upper Colorado River Basin under the terms of the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact. The federal government and national customers of the Western Area Power Administration will pay for the balance. (2) The State of Colorado's share of the Platte River Cooperative Agreement will not exceed $15 million over the 15 year life of the program to provide regulatory assurance for continued use of existing water facilities in the Platte River basin. This is 40 percent of the states' share of this anticipated $75 million state- federal - private partnership. Nebraska will provide $15 million (40% of the states' share), and Wyoming will provide $7.5 million (20% of the states' share). These shares correspond to the amount of water each state is estimated to have depleted historically from the Platte River in accordance with the terms of the South Platte Compact and North Platte decree. The federal government will pay for the balance ($37.5 million). (3) The precise sequence of when the construction of the capital projects will commence, and what project will be undertaken depends on federal legislation, specific agreements between the states, the cooperative involvement of landowners and local governments and other factors. However, these are projects that have already been identified by the program participants for implementation over the next three- years. Anticipated capital expenses over the next three years ($10.6 million over the next three years): The capital projects listed below would be undertaken in the next three -years in accordance with agreements that have been negotiated by the State of Colorado to provide regulatory certainty under the Endangered Species Act to Colorado residents and businesses. • $1.2 million to install wells in the lower South Platte River associated with the Tamarack Managed Groundwater Recharge Project. • $2.5 million to acquire land in Nebraska on a willing seller basis. • $5.4 million to cover the state's share of those capital projects for the Upper Colorado River and San Juan Programs listed below. • $1.5 million to acquire property from willing sellers worth $1.5 million in connection with the Preble's meadow jumping mouse habitat conservation plan. This plan is currently being negotiated, but is expected to be completed by December 1998.