BOARD00503

• Board Meeting Date: 5/24/2004
• Description: WSP Section - Platte River Recovery Implementation Program Update. Draft Environmental Impact Statement and National Academy of Science Update.
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF COLORADO

. Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street,. Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

Bill Owens
Governor

Russell George
Executive Director

MEMORANDUM

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

To:

Colorado ~Jonservation Board .

Rick Br~-;oject Manager, Interstate Stream Protection

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

From:

Date: May 13, 2004

Subject:

Agenda Item II, May 24-27, 2004 Board Meeting, Platte River Recover
Implementation Program Update. Draft Environmental Impact Statement and
National Academy of Science Update

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1. Introduction

In 1997 the Governors of the states of Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming signed an agreement with
the Department of Interior to improve and/or study the habitat of four endangered species in the
Central Platte River in Nebraska. This Cooperative Agreement was extended through June 2005 to
allow additional time to formulate a proposed program and complete National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) activities. The proposed program has three components: water, land, and monitoring
and research, Colorado's total cash and cash equivalent share is 15 million dollars and 27 KAF of
water via the Tamarack Plan. Significant budget issues remain unresolved and Colorado's share
could increase substantially, Issues also persist regarding Colorado's future depletions plan.

II. Draft Environmental Impact Statement

A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that describes and analyzes the proposed program
and a range of alternatives to the proposed program was released in December 2003, It appears that
the schedule for comments on the DEIS will be extended to August 20 to allow time for review of
the National Academy of Science report on the Platte program prior to beginning public meetings,

Staffhas completed an initial review ofthe DEIS and offers the following summary of the DEIS and
preliminary DRAFT comments. These comments have not yet been coordinated with Colorado's
water users and staffwill complete this coordination prior to the July Board meeting.

Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake P't'>:}+;.e<:.tion
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning