<br />Agenda Item 13, Native Species Conservation Trust Fund Recommendations
<br />January 24-25, 2006 Board Meeting
<br />Page 2 of5
<br />
<br />(b) Candidate species, in order to assist in the recovery or protection of the species to avoid
<br />listing of the species; and,
<br />(c) Scientific research relating to listing or delisting any species.
<br />
<br />Current SCTF Balances
<br />
<br />As of December 7, 2005, the projected balance in the SCTF Capital Account: which is used to
<br />fund the Upper Colorado River Recovery Implementation Program (UCRIP), San Juan River
<br />Recovery Implementation Program (SJRIP) and the Platte River Cooperative Agreement (aka. 3-
<br />State Cooperative Agreement or CA), is $7,504,090. Of this amount, $7,674,962 has been
<br />appropriated and either expended or encumbered leaving a zero balance in the fund for FY06-07
<br />requests. It should be noted that the recommended expenditures exceed the current balance, but after
<br />interest is accrued, the expenditures should be less than the fund balance. Colorado needs
<br />approximately $1,882,813, less credits against our remaining obligations that could be as much as
<br />$920,000, to complete its cost share commitments to the UCRIP and SJRIP.
<br />
<br />As of December 7, 2005, the balance in the SCTF O&M Account, which is used primarily to
<br />fund CDOW activities related to state listed threatened and endangered species, candidate species
<br />and species of concern, is $1,844,871.14. Of this amount, $1,080,092 has been appropriated and
<br />either expended or encumbered leaving a balance of $764,779.14, which when adding interest of
<br />$23,426 makes $788,205.14 available to fund the FY06-07 requests.
<br />
<br />This financial information demonstrates the need to replenish the SCTF if we are to meet our
<br />remaining cost share obligations to the UCRIP and SJRIP, which combined are estimated to be .
<br />approximately $1.883 million less credits, plus some portion ofthe estimated $24,000,000 Colorado
<br />cost share that will be required to implement the 1" increment of the recovery program developed
<br />under the CA and continue to provide state funding to address state listed species, candidate species
<br />and species of concern. DNR is working with the State Office of Planning and Budget to replenish
<br />funds in the SCTF account and is currently requesting $12,800,000 ($6,882,000 for Capital and
<br />$6,000,000 for O&M), which would come from various sources. With passage of Amendment C,
<br />we are hopeful that the SCTF can be replenished to the levels needed to complete Colorado's cost
<br />share obligations to the UCRIP and SJRIP and make available substantial funding towards
<br />Colorado's anticipated cost share requirements to the recovery program developed pursuant to CA.
<br />
<br />FY 2006-07 Recommended Pronams
<br />
<br />The recommendations for FY 2006-07 have been reviewed with the stakeholders group that
<br />DNR convenes annually and with the Wildlife Commission. Assuming that the SCTF Capital
<br />Account is replenished as is being requested, the recommendations are as follows:
<br />
<br />1. Recovery Programs for the Endangered Fish of the Upper Colorado and Sail Juan River
<br />Basins: $1,882,813 ($1,336,813 for UCRIP and $546,000 for SJRIP)
<br />
<br />These two recovery programs are directed toward the recovery ofthe Pikeminnow, humpback
<br />chub, bonytail chub, and Razorback Sucker in the Upper Colorado River and San Juan River basins
<br />while allowing water development activities to proceed in accordance with state law and interstate
<br />compacts. Recovery Program activities eligible for funding are drawn from the Colorado River
<br />Recovery Implementation Program Recovery Action Plan (RIPRAP), the San Juan River Recovery .
<br />Implementation Program Workplan (Workplan) and state activities that are consistent with these
<br />plans. These activities include:
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Financing. Stream and Lake Protection
<br />Water Supply Protection. Conservation Plarming
<br />
|