BOARD00356

• Board Meeting Date: 5/22/2000
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Gunnison River. Among those who attended the meeting were representatives from Reclamation,
Colorado, the Colorado River Water Conservation District, and the Upper Gunnison River Water .
Conservancy District.

Platte River Basin

Blackhawk and Central City Early Flood Warning System: On May 18, our staff
presented information to Colorado's Gaming Commission about the need for an early flood
warning system that would benefit the Cities of Blackhawk and Central City and the protection
of instream flow issues in the North Clear Creek watershed and the benefits of a satellite gaging
station that could be installed on North Clear Creek upstream from the town of Blackhawk. Such
a satellite-monitoring gage is estimated to cost approximately $60,000 to construct and $10,000
annually to maintain.

Rio Grande River Basin

Navajo and New Mexico Water Supply Meetings: On Mar.27 Reclamation filed a
notice of intent in the Federal Register to prepare a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS)
on a proposed water supply project for the New Mexico portion of the Navajo Nation south of
the San Juan River and the Window Rock area within Arizona, and the City of Gallup. The
proposed action would provide a long-term, high quality municipal and industrial water supply to
improve the standard of living for current and future populations and to support economic growth
of the Navajo Nation and the City of Gallup.

The DEIS will evaluate alternatives for the construction and operation of the Navajo- .
Gallup Water Supply Project and act as the final planning report to support a request for
construction authorization. Two structural alternatives for the project are currently under study
and proposed: the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project Alternative and the San Juan River Diversion
Alternative. The DEIS will examine both these proposed alternatives as well as a Non-Structural
Water Conservation Alternative, a No Action Alternative, and any other proposed alternatives
brought forth as a result of the public scoping meetings. Written comments may be sent directly
to Rege Leach of the Bureau of Reclamation, 835 East Second Avenue, Suite 300, Durango,
Colorado 81301; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]; or E-mail: [e-mail]
. Comments should be received by Mav 26, 2000, to be most effectively considered. Information
is also available at Reclamation's web site address at www.uc.usbr.gov.

Sand Dunes Bill Introduced: On March 28, U.S. Representative Scott McInnis
introduced HR-4095 "to provide for the establishment of the Great Sand Dunes National Park
and the Great Sand Dunes National Park Preserve in the State of Colorado, and for other
purposes." No hearings have been scheduled. To review a copy of the bill on-line see
htto:/ / frweb gate. access. goo. gOV / cgi-
binlgetdoc.cgi?dbname=106 cong bills&docid=f:h4095ih.txt.odf. U.S. Sen. Allard introduced a
companion bill, S. 2547 on May II. No hearings on either bill have been scheduled. A copy of
the House bill will be provided to Board members.

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