BOARD00220

• Board Meeting Date: 9/22/2003
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

MEMORANDUM
TO: CWCB and WQCC

FROM:

Bahman Hatami

DATE:

August 20, 2003

SUBJECT:

Decision Statement Concerning the Coloradd Watershed Protection Fund (CWSPF) Grant
Award

The CWSPF Designees met on July 21, 2003 to decide on the allocation of the available funds to qualified
applicants. The Designees, based on review of applications andithe joint recommendation by staff and the
Colorado Watershed Assembly (CW A) representatives, made th,e following decisions:

. The Designees approved the application ranking that had been presented in the joint recommendation with
the exception of switching the ranking for the 9th and 8th applications. As a result, the Acequia
Association's application moved up to ranking No.8, while the Big Thompson Watershed Forum's second
application moved to ranking No.9 (Table 1). The Designees made this decision taking into consideration
the geographic diversification of the Fund as well as the unique culturalllftt! characteristics of Acequia
Association's proposal. Additionally, the Designees todk into account that the Big Thompson Watershed
Forum's fIrst project had ranked No.3 in the joint recoriunendation. The Acequia Association's
application now has a greater chance to be eligible for f(mding should two or more selected applicants
choose not to accept the allocated grants.
. The original j oint recommendation with funding for six ilPplications was based on a budget of
approximately $110,000. That recommendation included the consideration of partially funding the North
Fork River Improvement Association application (50% or $23,000) to allow partial, ifnot full, funding of
the next ranked application.
. The Department of Revenue's (DOR) official statement,indicated that the available funds for the CWSPF
was $84,134.00, after expenses for setting up the accoUlj.t were deducted. This was based on total revenue
of $98,683.00, less $14,549.00 in DOR expenses. Accordingly, the Designees decided to partially fund all
the six recommended applications by reducing each grant to 72% of the requested amount and maintaining
the North Fork River Improvement Association grant at!50% as proposed by the joint recommendation.
The Designees also specified that the grant for the Nort1l Fork River Improvement Association was to cover
only four out of five tasks identified in Page 3 of the North Fork Application. The designees resolved that
the North Fork River Improvement Association should aeek other sources of funding to complete Task No.
3, "Headgate and diversion construction".
. The Designees also recommended that, where appropriate, the CWCB and WQCD staffs identify potential
funding sources such as the CWCB's Small Project Fun~ or the WQCD's 319 Fund for qualified
applications that would not be receiving the CWSPF gn\nts in 2003.
. The CWCB will notify the applicants in the near future.! Per the CWSPF program guidance, grants will be
awarded by September 30, 2003. .

Summary of Applications Selected for Award

I. James Creek Watershed Initiative - James Creek Restoration Project, Phase II
This Project will engage the community, stakeholders, and partners in the reclamation of the James Creek's
riparian corridor. Phase II will include the implementation of the Stream Corridor Restoration Plan using
BMPs to reduce sediment loading into James Creek andlimprove the function of the riparian corridor.
Project goals include reducing sediment loading into Ja$es Creek through the use of BMPs; improving
habitat effectiveness for aquatic life in the stream and wjldlife along the riparian corridor; and stabilizing
streambanks to prevent further erosion and downstream flooding.
2. Coalition for Upper South Platte - The grant will be usep as match for federal funding for fIre rehab and
green forest restoration on the Hayman bum area. Work includes efforts to mitigate soil erosion from

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