BOARD00262

• Board Meeting Date: 1/24/2006
• Description: WSP Section - Species Conservation Trust Fund
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF COLORADO

. Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Slreet, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 802CX3
Phone:(303)~3441
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

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MEMORANDUM

TO:

Bill Owens
Governor

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

FROM:

Tom Blickensderfer
Randy Seaholm
Ted Kowalski

Russell George
Executive Director

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

DATE:

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

January 16, 2006

RE:

Agenda Item 13, January 24-25, 2006 Board Meeting: Water Supply Protection _
Native Species Conservation Trust Fund, Recommendations for FY 2006-07

Backeround and Introduction

HB 98-1006 created the Native Species Conservation Trust Fund (SCTF). Each year, after
consulting with the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and its director, the Colorado
Wildlife Commission and the director of the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) and a
stakeholder group, the Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) must
prepare a "species conservation eligibility list." The list must describe programs and associated costs
that are eligible to receive funding.

The "species conservation eligibility list" is then sent to the General Assembly for review
and modification as appropriate prior to the passage ofthe Species Conservation Trust Fund bill for
that year. We would note that in the early years following enactment ofHB 98.1006 that the
General Assembly approved funding and authorized expenditures by joint resolution rather than
formal legislation.

When the "species conservation eligibility list" is submitted, the DNR Executive Director
must also provide a detailed report about the status of certain native species and the progress that has
been made toward the recovery of those species. The report must include an assessment of habitat
benefits attributable to activities that have been undertaken by the State and its partners.

Distribution of Funds

The Act requires that funding be distributed for the following purposes:

I. Cooperative agreements, recovery programs, and other programs that are designed to meet
obligations arising under the federal "Endangered Species Act of 1973" that provide regulatory
certainty.

2. Studies and programs established or approved by the CDOW and the Executive Director of the
DNR regarding:

(a) Species placed on the state endangered or threatened list;

Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning