BOARD00552

• Board Meeting Date: 5/25/1994
• Description: Agenda, Minutes, Memos
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

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Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources

721 State Centennial Building
1313 Sherman Street
Denver. Colorado 80203
Phoue(303) 866.3441
FAX [phone]

STATE OF COLORADO

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Roy Romer
Governor

MEMORANDUM

James S, Lochhead
Executive Director, DNR

Danes C. Lite, P,E,
Director, CWCB

TO: Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

FROM: Chuck Lile

DATE: May 18, 1994

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 3, May 25-26, 1994, Board Meeting--
Director's Report

The primary activities that the Director has been involved with since our last Board meeting:

Legislation: The Colorado General Assembly has completed the 1994 session and we were actively
involved in several bills including SB94-54 Conditional Water Rights, SB94-29 Annual CWCB
Construction Fund, SB94-203 Water Fund Transfer Bill and SJ94-32 Water Resources analysis of
Colorado. Additionally we worked with the Executive Director of DNR with appointments to the
CWCB Board. The session was very favorable to our agency, particularly in regard to funding. The
annual appropriations bill returned 50 percent of our operating expenses to General Fund support,
and $20 million was transferred to the Construction Fund. A summary of legislation is attached to
this report for your review.

Colorado River: There are two issues facing us on the Colorado River, The first being Nevada's
desire for additional supplies, and secondly spike flow (beach building) releases from Lake Powell,
We have assisted and attended meetings on both issues with Jim Lochhead and further lengthy
discussions will be presented at this meeting.

Arkansas River: The attorneys have completed the arguments before the special master and are
awaiting his decision. We have participated in meetings in the Arkansas Basin with the State
Engineer and are working with the Attorney General's office, State Engineer, and Director of Natural
Resources to develop a plan for dealing with the long term issues facing Colorado in the Arkansas
River Basin,

Congressional Testimonv: We lead a delegation to testify before Congressional Committees to
support the funding for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for FY 95, The group included Leonard
Burch Chairman of the Southern Ute Tribe, Judy Knight Chairman of Ute Mountain Ute Tribe,
representatives of the Animas La Plata Conservancy District, the Dolores Conservancy District and
the San Juan Water Commissioners of New Mexico.