BOARD00607

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

fulfill Congress's intent to preserve and protect the unimpaired and natural character of the Wilderness
Areas." Some 3,400 Idaho water rights are affected, and the implication for other water users is of great e
concern. I have asked the Attorney General's Office to give us an assessment of these implications so we
can consider our options. For a copy of the Idaho Supreme Court's decision, you can visit
www.state.id.us/i udiciall ouini ons/uotlatch. udf.

Statewide Issues

Governor's Conference of Floods and Droughts: Reducing Colorado's vulnerability to flood
and drought disasters will be the theme of a conference hosted by Governor Bill Owens on Dec. 2 and 3 at
the Adams Mark Hotel in downtown Denver. The event is co-sponsored by the Colorado Department of
Natural Resources, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and the Colorado Department of
Agriculture. Quite a few of our staff, especially Bill Stanton, Larry Lang and Dan McAuliffe, have
worked hard with DWR and DNR staff to organize an excellent program for the Governor.

Conference topics include an assessment of Colorado's vulnerability to floods and droughts, the
economic impacts associated with these natural disasters, and case studies that illustrate where
improvements can be made in the state's preparedness and response abilities. Speakers from federal
agencies are being invited to provide a national perspective on trends in mitigating floods and droughts.
Conference participants will also hear about how other states are addressing flood and drought concerns.

The conference will begin at 9 a.m. on, Dec. 2, and run through 3 p.m. on, Dec. 3. The registration
fee is $100 for people who pre-register before Nov. 30 and $150 at the door. If you would like to register
to attend the Governor's Flood and Drought Preparedness Conference, send a check for $100 payable to: ..
Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Attention: Regina Rodriguez, 1313 Sherman St., Room 718, ..
Denver, CO 80218. For more information about the conference, contact Kathy Kanda by mail at the same
address, bye-mail at <[e-mail]> or by telephone at [phone]. Complete
information, including an agenda, will be available at our meeting or can also be obtained by visiting
httu:llwww.dnr.state.co.us/conference/conference.htm.

New Instream Flow Rules: Colorado's Solicitor General, Mike McClachlan, has reviewed and
approved the new instream flow rules. They were to be delivered to the Secretary of State's office by
November 8,1999 for inclusion in the Colorado Code of Regulations by Dec. 31, 1999.

Water Congress' ESA Conference: On Nov. 5, the Colorado Water Congress hosted its armual
Endangered Species Act conference in Northglenn. Following an introduction and overview of the
Endangered Species Act by Margot Zallen, a senior attorney with Department ofthe Interior's Solicitor's
Office, 10 speakers from participating associations spoke about Endangered Species issues. Those
making presentations included the Colorado Farm Bureau, Douglas County, Colorado Association of
Home Builders, United Sportsmen's Council, Larimer County, Club 20, Colorado Rock Products
Association, Colorado Timber Association, DNR Executive Director Greg Walcher, U.S. Rep. Bob
Schaffer, Regional U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Director Ralph Morgenweck, Colorado
Agricultural Commissioner Don Ament, and several attorney's offering "Do's and Don'ts in Dealing with
Endangered Species". The thrust of the conference was to increase general awareness ofESA
requirements and opportunities related to the state's Species Conservation Trust Fund.

Flood Response Update: CWCB staff became heavily involved in flood response activities ..
following the disaster declarations that resulted from severe storms and flooding in several Colorado ..

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