BOARD00543

• Board Meeting Date: 7/28/2003
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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. Need for BLM to become more active player in salinity control efforts.

. How to keep program implementation coordinated given the growing disparity between USDA
and Reclamation funding levels.

. Difficulty states are having in meeting Forum assessments for operating expenses, and possible
alternate funding sources. Assessments were frozen at current levels for next two years.

Both Reclamation and the USDA are planning on beginning salinity control activities in new areas of
the Upper Basin. The USDA is studying four potential new areas in Colorado, with a study of the
Mancos area nearly complete and looking to present a viable, cost-effective opportunity. We will be
meeting with USDA officials and local project sponsors in Mancos on July 21 to discuss project details
and implementation.

Board financing of a portion of project costs (25% non-federal cost-sharing is required) may be
necessary. In addition, Reclamation will be soliciting for proposals for salinity control projects. It is
expected that proposals will be submitted from the Cortez and Montrose areas. We will be working
with local interests to assure that cost-effective, competitive proposals are submitted, and given careful
consideration.

Coordinated Facilities Operations Study (CFOPS): On July 11 the Upper Colorado River
Recovery Program's Water Acquisition Committee approved the draft report. The Executive
. Committee for this project continues to work on a final recommendation which currently has three
parts: (1) continue to use Coordinated Reservoir Operations as the primary means for augmenting the
spring peak and encourage increased participation; (2) use storage to add an additional 20,000 AF to
the spring peak when the USFWS deems appropriate and elects to use existing environmental account
water (still discussing other sources) to provide "insurance" against any loss of project yield; and (3)
water users should undertake an independent feasibility study ,of the Webster Hill site on the Colorado
Mainstem to provide the 20,000 acre-feet and other recovery program benefits and consider other uses
in general. It is hoped that the recommendation can be completed in time for consideration by the
Management Committee on July 31.

Upper Colorado River Commission Meeting: The Upper Colorado River Commission met in
Pinedale, Wyoming on June 17. The major business was the approval of resolutions allowing the use
of Upper Colorado River Basin water in the Lower Colorado River Basin for the Navajo-Gallup
Project in New Mexico and for the Lake Powell Pipeline to the St. George area in Utah.. The
Commission also received reports from Reclamation, Western Area Power Administration, USFWS
and others and discussed budget issues for the coming year.

Price-Stubb Diversion Dam: Representatives of federal agencies, kayakers and other recreational
interests have reached agreement with Mr. Eric Jacobsen that would allow Mr. Jacobsen to move
forward with the Peach Queen Hydropower Project at the old Price-Stubb Diversion across the
Colorado River in Debeque Canyon.

The agreement calls for a zigzag kayak course just below the diversion dam and an 800 foot long fish
ladder along the river. The deal calls for Mr. Jacobsen to contribute the first 100 cfs of his water right
to the fish ladder and to use 967 cfs of his water right for the water park on weekends, evenings and
federal holidays. The deal also makes water available for hydropower generation during higher
demand times or when otherwise not used.

This deal is important to the endangered fish recovery program in that the fish passage at Price-Stubb
when coupled with passage at the Grand Valley Irrigation Company Diversion (in-place) and at the

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