BOARD00607

• Board Meeting Date: 11/22/1999
• Description: Directors' Reports
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

assist in the development of comprehensive resource plans. We will be meeting with Gunnison in the ..
near future to discuss this request. ,.,

Platte River Basin

South Platte Forum: The 10th annual South Platte Forum was held on October 27, 28 1999 in
Longmont. A very lively panel dissuasion regarding the Preble's Jumping mouse was one of the
highlights of the forum. Some key issues which were raised included: potential impacts to irrigators due
to possible restrictions on ditch maintenance but hopefully these activities will be exempted; the issue of
designation of critical habitat or the lack of this designation has not been thoroughly addressed, simply
establishing a 300 foot protection zone beyond the 100 year flood plain is perhaps to general; completing
Section 7 consultations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)can take up to a year or more this is a
problem for proposed development activities at the local level and seems to be both a procedural and
staffing problem at the federal level.

ESA updates were also provided regarding the potential listing of the Mountain Plover and the
Black-tailed Prairie Dog listing. The potential listing of the Black-tailed Prairie Dog could prove
controversial if the process moves forward. US Fish and Wildlife (USFW) in response to concerns
regarding potential listing has agreed to perform further review of infol111ation on the species. A decision
on how USFW will proceed (proposed listing vs. a no protection is necessary finding) is expected in late
1999 or early 2000. It is hoped that a US Fish and Wildlife.

Protection of the quality of source-water for drinking water supplies was outlined during a panel
discussion. The South Platte Basin contains an estimated 913 out of2201 total state wide drinking water _
systems. Of the 913 systems 104 are surface water, 657 ground water, 6 combination, and 146 are ..
purchased water systems. The source-water protection program is part of the 1996 Federal Clean Water
Act amendments. The South Platte is clearly going to receive a high level of attention given the large
number of drinking water systems located within the watershed. In a nutshell the program will focus on:
public participation, delineation of source water area boundaries, identification of regulated and
unregulated potential source of contamination, and determination of the potential threat to the drinking
water source. Over time it is hard to project how this information might be used. Certainly protection of
drinking water sources is critical for Colorado's water. However, the program might also be a vehicle for
growth control and impact private property rights depending on how the program is ultimately
implemented.

A very interesting presentation was provided regarding Amendment 14 which requires certain
Confined Swine Feeding Operations to obtain /cornply with both air quality and water quality
permits/regulations. Overall the program is fairly aggressive in terms ofthe requirement imposed on the
swine industry. Concern was voices by livestock interests that casual perceptions from people unfamiliar
with agricultural interests can drive the political process. A need to be proactive and responsible in regard
to water and air quality issues was acknowledged.

An overview of the three states cooperative agreement was provided by Colorado, Nebraska,
Wyoming, and the Environmental Defense Fund

A discussion on non-point source pollution issues was also provided. Control of non-point source
pollution (i.e., abandoned mines, urban runoff, agricultural sources etc.) will continue to be a focus for _
EP A in their efforts to improve water quality. It was emphasized that it is more important to look at the ..

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